Youtube channel What About It?, Felix Schlang, dives deep into the technology of the SpaceX Raptor 3 engine. SpaceX has made new alloys for withstanding the heat and have build channels and other structures into the engine. This vastly superior engine outperforms the RS-25 engine that was used on the Space Shuttle and is still used on the SLS (Space Launch System). The RS-25 engine costs about $100 million each while the SpaceX Raptor 3 costs less than $500,000 each.
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For now we are mostly limited to classical rocket tech. SpaceX leverages what it can to the maximum. But with AI,.. we will unlock better ways to get to space.
I suspect there is also the effect of being outside of the strangling tentacles of government bureaucracies and contracts.
This is probably where the cooled metal heat shield idea comes from.
Pretty amazing specs, considering that there aren’t any revolutionary new technologies in the engine (aside from the torchless ignition system). This definitely seems to stem from a private industry approach of embracing risk as well as always seeking greater performance. Plus there’s the spacex engineering magic going on. Even in the private industry, no one can innovate as well as Elon.
I think the innovation is in the manufacturing process. I have 3D printer (plastic), and I can print things with complex internal designs that could never be cast using traditional methods. I assume the same goes for 3D metal printers.
There are some really extreme alloys involved, which I don’t think are public domain at this point. The interior of the turbopumps, especially the oxidizer one, have conditions more extreme than a cutting torch. The fact that any metal can survive under those conditions is impressive.
And they’re holding the details of the interior of the turbo pumps close to their vest, I wouldn’t rule out some revolutionary details.
But I’d say the main thing is that they actually ARE innovating, and pushing the limits to advance them, while the legacy aerospace corporations had largely gotten fat and happy, and stopped trying to improve.
So so true. Lethargy and complacency have stalled rocket engine advancements..esp due to politicians and gov contracts beurucracy…