Is SpaceX's Raptor engine the king of rocket engines?

What people said

DisjointedHunt · 2022-02 · Strong recommendation

Because the assumptions made for one class of payload don't apply to another class of payload with vastly different mission specifications. A great place to start is this amazing video by The Everyday Astronaut: [VIDEO] Notice how the type of fuel used itself is a consideration for the type of rockets we may send to Mars if we're considering In-Situ refueling.

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DennisP · 2019-11 · Strong recommendation

NASA's big project for launch is a disposable rocket using Space Shuttle technology. It will cost at least a billion dollars per launch. SpaceX's project is a fully reusable rocket, with rapid turnaround because it uses methane fuel in the world's first clean-burning full-flow engine. They expect to be able to launch three times per day. On top of that the rocket is built of cheap stainless steel instead of carbon fiber. With that amount of reuse, each launch basically pays for fuel and ground support, each of which costs about a million dollars per launch. Given their payload of at least 100 tonnes, that's $20/kg. They've already done a single-engine hop test, and hope to reach orbit within six months. Here's a great video on what makes the new SpaceX engine revolutionary: [VIDEO]

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kiratp · 2022-11 · Recommendation

SpaceX is making significant breakthroughs that you can appreciate if you understand the tech. > As of 2019, only three full-flow staged combustion rocket engines had ever progressed sufficiently to be tested on test stands; the Soviet Energomash RD-270 project in the 1960s, the US government-funded Aerojet Rocketdyne Integrated powerhead demonstration project in the mid-2000s,[6] and SpaceX's flight capable Raptor engine first test-fired in February 2019. [LINK] If you want to learn more [VIDEO]

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