Raptormotor

Raptormotor is a line of rocket engines developed by SpaceX. These engines are designed for vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) spacecraft and are a key component of the Starship launch system. The Raptor engine utilizes a full-flow staged combustion cycle, a highly efficient method of rocket engine design. This cycle involves pre-burning propellants at high pressure to drive the engine's turbopumps before they are fully combusted in the main combustion chamber.

The Raptor engine uses liquid methane (CH4) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer. Methane was chosen for several reasons, including its relatively high performance, its potential for in-situ resource utilization on Mars (meaning it could theoretically be produced on Mars), and its cleaner burning properties compared to traditional hydrocarbon fuels. The full-flow staged combustion cycle allows the Raptor to achieve higher chamber pressures and specific impulse, which translates to greater efficiency and thrust.

SpaceX has developed several iterations of the Raptor engine, including Raptor 1, Raptor 2, and the latest Raptor 3. Each iteration has seen improvements in performance, reliability, and manufacturability. The Raptor engines are designed to be highly reusable, a critical requirement for SpaceX's ambitious goals of rapidly launching and landing spacecraft. Multiple Raptor engines are clustered together to power both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage.