Raptor
Raptor-test-9-25-2016.jpg
First test firing of a Raptor development engine on 25 September 2016 in McGregor, Texas.
Country of originUnited States
ManufacturerSpaceX
ApplicationMultistage propulsion
StatusReady
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLiquid oxygen / liquid methane
Mixture ratio3.8
CycleFull-flow staged combustion
Pumps2 × multi-stage
Configuration
Chamber1
Nozzle ratio40
Performance
Thrust2,400 kN (550,000 lbf)
Thrust-to-weight ratio>170 (goal) 
Chamber pressure300 bar (30 MPa; 4,400 psi),
 anticipated value
Isp (vac.)380 s (3,700 m/s) (goal)
Isp (SL)330 s (3,200 m/s)
Dimensions
Length3.1 m (10 ft)
Diameter1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Dry weight1,500 kg (3,300 lb) (goal)
Used in
Starship, Super Heavy

Raptor is a full-flow, staged combustion, methane-fueled rocket engine manufactured by SpaceX. The engine is powered by cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen (LOX), rather than the RP-1 kerosene and LOX used in SpaceX's prior Merlin and Kestrel rocket engine families. The earliest concepts for Raptor considered liquid hydrogen (LH
2
) as fuel rather than methane. The Raptor engine has about two times the thrust of the Merlin 1D engine that powers the current Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

Raptor will be used in both stages of the two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicle Starship.

The Raptor engine is a highly reusable methalox staged-combustion engine that will power the next generation of SpaceX launch vehicles designed to replace all existing SpaceX vehicles, including the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles and the Dragon spacecraft. Raptor engines are expected to be used in various applications including existing Earth-orbit satellite delivery market, the exploration and colonization of Mars.

Raptor engines began flight testing on the Starship prototype rockets in July 2019 and became the first full-flow staged combustion rocket engine ever flown.

Description