Raptor prototype upper-stage engine

The Raptor prototype upper-stage engine is a bipropellant rocket engine being developed by SpaceX for a US Air Force contract issued in January 2016.

The upper-stage prototype is to use the full-flow staged combustion engine cycle and same methalox propellants of the Raptor rocket engine that SpaceX has been developing since at least 2009. The prototype is expected to complete testing no later than 31 December 2018.[1]

History

In January 2016 the US Air Force (USAF) awarded a US$33.6 million development contract to SpaceX to develop a prototype version of its methane-fueled reusable Raptor engine for use on the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The contract requires double-matching funding by SpaceX of at least US$67.3 million.[1][2] Work under the contract is expected to be completed no later than 31 December 2018, and engine performance testing will be done at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.[1][3]

Although the USAF contract called only for the development and build of a prototype engine with a series of ground tests, with no upper stage design funded by the contract,[1] the Air Force was working with the US Congress as of February 2016 to be able to proceed to a second phase in order to pursue a broader USAF objective: new launch systems. If such a second phase were to be approved by Congress, the USAF would subsequently solicit proposals for new launch vehicles and then "evaluate that as part of a total launch solution [ultimately, hoping to] be able to select at least two national security space launch systems."[4]

In October 2017 the US Air Force (USAF) awarded a US$40.8 million modification for the development of the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. Work under this contract is expected to be completed no later than 30 April 2018.[5]

Design characteristics

As of January 2016, little technical detail had been publicly released. The prototype is however to be designed:[1]

The USAF contract calls only for the development and build of a prototype, to be demonstrated in a USAF-supervised set of tests. No upper stage vehicle design/redesign is funded by the contract.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Contracts: Air Force". U.S. Department of Defense Contracts press release. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016. development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. ... Air Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,660,254 are being obligated at the time of award. SpaceX is contributing $67,320,506 at the time of award.
  2. ↑ "SpaceX, Orbital ATK + Blue Origin Signed On By SMC For Propulsion Prototypes". Satnews Daily. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Orbital ATK, SpaceX Win Air Force Propulsion Contracts". SpaceNews. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016. SpaceX ... to continue development of its reusable methane-fueled Raptor engine.
  4. ↑ Harper, Jon (2016-02-11). "Air Force Outlines Future Space Launch Plans". National Defense. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  5. ↑ "Contracts: Air Force". U.S. Department of Defense Contracts press release. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $40,766,512 modification (P00007) for the development of the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. Work will be performed at NASA Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Hawthorne, California; McGregor, Texas; and Los Angeles Air Force Base, California; and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $40,766,512 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-16-9-0001).
  6. ↑ "Falcon 9". [SpaceX]. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  7. ↑ "Falcon Heavy". [SpaceX]. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
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