SpaceX Raptor
As of 2009[update], Raptor was a rocket engine design concept by SpaceX for a higher performance upper stage for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The engine would be powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen,[1] rather than the RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen used in the current Falcon 9 upper stage.
Liquid Hydrogen rocket engines typically have a specific impulse (Isp) of up to 450s, in comparison to the SpaceX RP-1 Merlin Vacuum engine's Isp of 342s.[citation needed] An LH2 upper stage enables much greater mass to be boosted into orbit.[1]
History
Raptor was first discussed by SpaceX's Max Vozoff at the AIAA Commercial Crew/Cargo symposium in 2009.[1] As of April 2011[update], SpaceX has a small number of staff working on the Raptor upper stage, at a fairly low level of priority.[2]
See also
- Advanced Common Evolved Stage
- Falcon Heavy
- RL10
- XCOR/ULA liquid-hydrogen, upper-stage engine development project
References
- ^ a b c "Long term SpaceX vehicle plans". HobbySpace.com. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
- ^ "Notes: Space Access'11: Thurs. - Afternoon session - Part 2: SpaceX". RLV and Space Transport News. 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
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