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In October 2012, SpaceX publicly announced concept work on a rocket engine that would be "several times as powerful as the Merlin 1 series of engines, and won't use Merlin's RP-1 fuel". [58] They indicated that the large engine was intended for a new SpaceX rocket, using multiple of these large engines could notionally launch payload masses of ...
Every Merlin engine produces 854 kN (192,000 lb f) ... As of 2024, SpaceX's internal costs for a Falcon 9 launch are estimated between $15 million [179] ...
SpaceX has developed two kerosene-based engines through 2013, the Merlin 1 and Kestrel, and has publicly discussed a much larger concept engine high-level design named Merlin 2. Merlin 1 powered the first stage of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle and is used both on the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The ...
Engine Origin Designer Vehicle Status Use Propellant Power cycle Specific impulse (s) [a] Thrust (N) [a] ... Merlin 1D FT USA: SpaceX: Falcon 9 B5, Heavy: Active 1st
In April 2017, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that Block 5 will feature 7–8% more thrust by uprating the engines (from 176,000 pounds-force (780,000 N) to 190,000 pounds-force (850,000 N) per engine). [14] Block 5 includes an improved flight control system for an optimized angle of attack on the descent, lowering landing fuel requirements.
The Falcon 9 v1.1 features stretched first and second stages, and a new octagonal arrangement of the 9 Merlin-1D engines on the first stage (replacing the square pattern of engines in v1.0). SpaceX notes that the Falcon 9 v1.1 is cheaper to manufacture, and longer than v1.0.
A similar set of technical solutions that reduce the cost of the engine was implemented in the SpaceX's Merlin 1A engine, which used a turbopump from the same subcontractor. [15] The Merlin-1A was somewhat larger with a thrust of 77,000 lbf (340 kN) versus 60,000 lbf (270 kN) for Fastrac.
Tom Mueller became TRW vice president of propulsion. In 2002, Elon Musk asked Mueller to join him as a founding member of SpaceX. Technology lessons from the Low Cost Pintle Engine project were used in the development of the SpaceX Merlin engine. [6] [7] Mueller joined SpaceX in 2002, becoming its head of propulsion, along with other TRW ...