Elon Musk: Raptor 3 is kind of alien technology
“Even industry experts, when we showed a picture of the Raptor 3, said, ‘That engine is not complete’”
“Well, here’s the engine - not complete - firing at a level of efficiency that has never been achieved before”
Raptor 3 is a massive leap forward in rocket engine design
• No base heat shield required, saving huge mass and improving reliability
• Fuel leaks are no longer catastrophic, they safely burn off in open plasma
• Dramatically higher payload capacity and efficiency
• Simpler design with fewer parts, but far more capability
• Secondary fluid systems and electronics are integrated directly into the engine structure