If I were to ask you, "What's the most expensive part of a rocket?" many might guess it's advanced technology systems, the materials used for its construction, or even the cost of the fuel. However, the real answer lies within its engines. These engines are not just any part of the rocket; they are the crucial components that provide the thrust needed for lift-off. This is especially true for rockets like Starship which the world’s largest spacecraft.
During its recent third flight, the rocket achieved 80% of its mission objectives successfully as planned. In this video, we'll dive into whether the remaining 20% of the mission's challenges were related to the engines or if there were other factors.
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SpaceX has always focused on developing its own rocket engines instead of using ones already available on the market. This approach started with the creation of the Merlin engines, which are used on the Falcon rockets. These engines are powered by RP-1, a type of kerosene, and liquid oxygen. The Merlin engine is known for its high thrust-to-weight ratio, making it very efficient for its size. It has been a critical component in achieving the reusability of the Falcon 9's first stage.
After the Merlin engines, SpaceX developed the Kestrel engine for the Falcon 1's upper stage and the Draco/SuperDraco engines for the Dragon spacecraft.
The next significant development was the Raptor engine, designed for the Starship spacecraft. The Raptor uses a full-flow staged combustion cycle, a first for an operational engine, which allows for more efficient fuel use. It runs on methane and liquid oxygen, which could potentially be sourced from Mars in the future, aligning with SpaceX's goals for Mars colonization.
After developing the Raptor engine, SpaceX introduced the Raptor 2, an upgraded version that offers significant improvements in terms of thrust. The Raptor 2 is now being used in SpaceX's Starship test flights.
The Starship's Super Heavy booster is powered by 33 Raptor engines. This massive array of engines is a testament to the power required to propel the Starship into orbit and beyond. The Starship itself uses 6 Raptor 2 engines for operation in the vacuum of space.
The Raptor 2 engines boast an impressive thrust capacity, which is critical for the ambitious missions SpaceX envisions for the Starship, including crewed missions to Mars and beyond. Each Raptor 2 engine is capable of producing about 230 tons of thrust at full power.
We all witnessed the impressive performance of the Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines during the launch on March 14th. Shortly after launch, the vehicle reached Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure, a critical phase for any rocket. The broadcast showed various angles of the rocket ascending, thanks to multiple onboard cameras.

Unlike the challenges faced during the first two test flights, the third launch saw the engines performing without any issues, consuming around 40,000 pounds of propellant per second upon ignition. At T+2 minutes and 44 seconds, the stage separation occurred. This was executed flawlessly, with most of the booster engines shutting down except for three, allowing for a controlled separation. Immediately after, the upper stage's six engines ignited, marking the start of its journey to orbit.


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