Raptor Engine - General Development Discussion and News

[mongo]

So, based on these frames at the moment of the RUD, it appears the engine is on the left, as that's where the explosion starts, and up that point the plume to the right tapers off in brightness.. in other words the engine is "firing" to the right:

View attachment 1014828
View attachment 1014831

However, in the frame to the left of the engine, as thrust picks up, you can see atmosphereic distortion and actually some exhaust flame shortly before teh explosion:



View attachment 1014830

What are we seeing here? is there some sort of ducting or other mechanism to redirect the exhaust? I don't see a dirt berm or anything...

I think engine is on the right behind the tank and firing to the left.

 

[scaesare]

Why does the explosion originate to the left rather than behind the tank then?

 

[scaesare]

Another Raptor RUD:

 

[scaesare]

And another:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771207345927754005

 

[TunaBug]

And another:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771207345927754005

This is the first Twitter reference I've seen that it's just a link. The others on this page still show the full Twitter quote. I MUCH prefer just the link.

 

[scaesare]

Interesting, so all I see is links... and apparently when I post that's what shows up too...

This feels like a Forum setting, but I looked thru my Control Panel and nothing jumped out at me...

 

[ggr]

Interesting, so all I see is links... and apparently when I post that's what shows up too...

This feels like a Forum setting, but I looked thru my Control Panel and nothing jumped out at me...

Apparently a transient error in the software.

 

[Grendal]

Shutdown of a Raptor vacuum engine in slow motion.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778208234349936881

 

[scaesare]

Shutdown of a Raptor vacuum engine in slow motion.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778208234349936881

Very cool... I wonder how long that 1 min slo-mo clip represented... and I also wonder what the nozzle would like like without that bracing collar...

 

[JB47394]

I wonder how long that 1 min slo-mo clip represented...

NSF's latest "This Week in Spaceflight" claims that it's just over a second.

 

[scaesare]

Interesting diagram posted at NSF comparing thrust density (thrust per unit of nozzle area) to specific impulse: