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The concept evolved from a family of Raptor-designated rocket engines (2012) [45] to focus on the full-size Raptor engine (2014). [46] In January 2016, the US Air Force awarded a US$33.6 million development contract to SpaceX to develop a prototype Raptor for use on the upper stage of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. [47] [48]
Engine Origin Designer Vehicle Status Use Propellant Power cycle Specific impulse (s) [a] Thrust (N) [a] Chamber pressure (bar) ... Raptor [30] USA: SpaceX: Starship ...
When first mentioned by SpaceX in 2009, the term "Raptor" was applied exclusively to an upper stage engine concept. [2] SpaceX discussed in October 2013 that they intended to build a family of methane-based Raptor rocket engines, [16] initially announcing that the engine would achieve 2.94 meganewtons (661,000 lbf) vacuum thrust. [16]
In July 2021, SpaceX announced plans to build a second production facility for Raptor engines at the McGregor facility. The new facility is expected to produce 800 to 1,000 rocket engines per year, approximately 2 to 4 each day, significantly expanding SpaceX's production capacity. [71] [72]
[4] [5] [6] Production began in 2021, with the first flight being conducted on April 20, 2023, during the first launch attempt of the Starship rocket. [7] [1] The booster is powered by 33 Raptor engines that use liquid oxygen and methane as propellants. It returns to its launch site after propelling the second stage toward orbit.
The forthcoming engine currently under development by SpaceX has been named "Raptor". Raptor will use liquid methane as a fuel, and was stated as having a sea-level thrust of 6,700 kilonewtons (1,500,000 lbf). [59]
Both stages are equipped with Raptor engines, the first flown and mass-produced full-flow staged combustion cycle engines, which burn liquid methane (natural gas) and liquid oxygen. As of 2024, [update] Starship is in development with an iterative and incremental approach , involving test flights of prototype vehicles .
On 31 October 2022, Blue Origin announced that the first two BE-4 engines were being integrated on a Vulcan rocket. [36] On 11 May 2023, Bruno stated that BE-4 qualification testing had been completed "several weeks ago", i.e,, by the end of April 2023. [37] On 30 June 2023, a BE-4 engine exploded 10 seconds into testing, damaging the test ...