Merlin (rocket engine)
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The Merlin engine is a RP-1/liquid oxygen gas-generator rocket engine. The Merlin engine was developed for use on the Falcon 1, Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 rockets by SpaceX and is designed for sea recovery and reuse. The Merlin has many innovative features, such as a thrust vectoring system using the RP-1 feed from the turbopumps to power its hydrualic actuators.
[edit] Revisions
[edit] Merlin 1A
The initial version, the Merlin 1A, used an inexpensive, expendable ablatively cooled carbon fiber composite nozzle.
[edit] Merlin 1B
The Merlin 1B rocket engine is an upgraded version of the Merlin engine developed by SpaceX for its Falcon 1 launch vehicles. It is capable of producing 85,000 lbf of thrust, over its predecessor's 77,000 lbf. The Merlin 1B has been enhanced over the 1A with a turbine upgrade (from 1490 kW to 1860 kW).
Initial use of the Merlin 1B was to be on the Falcon 9 heavy launch vehicle, on whose first stage there would have been a cluster of nine of these engines. Due to experience from the Falcon 1's first flight, the 1B will probably never be used on a flight vehicle. SpaceX has moved most of its Merlin development to the Merlin 1C, which is regeneratively cooled.
[edit] Merlin 1C
The Merlin 1C uses a regeneratively cooled nozzle and combustion chamber, and is still under development.
[edit] Merlin 2
The Merlin 2 is a planned future development with F-1-class performance currently under development by SpaceX. It is a considerable upgrade from its predecessors (Merlin 1A and Merlin 1B), and is better classified as an entirely new engine.
Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder, has stated that the Merlin 2 will be a powerful, regeneratively cooled engine. It is intended to be a scaled down version of a future planned engine who's performance will be in the range of the famed F-1 used on the Saturn V rockets that sent men to the moon, around 1.5 million lbf (6.7 MN of thrust). Merlin 3 is intended for use on SpaceX's future "BFR". The Merlin 2 itself will be a modest upgrade to the Merlin 1, featuring a regeneratively cooled nozzle, higher chamber pressure and higher specific impulse. Upgrading the Falcon 9 to Merlin 2 engines should allow Falcon 9 to compete with Sea Launch's Zenit in all weight classes.
[edit] Engine details
[edit] Performance
Current published ratings:
- Sea level thrust: 102,000 lbf (454 kN)
- Vacuum thrust: 115,000 lbf (512 kN)
- Chamber pressure: 6.14 MPa (890 psi)
- Sea level Isp: 255 s (2.6 kN·s/kg)
- Vacuum Isp: 304 s (3.0 kN·s/kg)
- Thrust-to-weight ratio (fully accounted): 96
[edit] Operations
- Fuel: RP-1 rocket grade kerosene
- Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- SpaceX Falcon engines page
- Race for Next Space Prize Ignites: Wired article describing successful test firing
