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Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, believes that an optimized version of the vacuum-optimized Raptor system will be ready for Starship's short-term launches, indicating that development has been prioritized or more easily rolled out than planned.
This is a significant change from a strategy discussed by Musk just four months ago, in which only one variant of Raptor was to be used on Starship and Super Heavy to shorten the trajectory of the next-generation rocket into orbit. . For unknown reasons, this approach may have already been replaced by a new alternative that would lead to a spacecraft with six Raptors instead of seven and a 50/50 split between vacuum engines and optimized for the level of the sea.
Without a more specific development timeline, it is not clear whether the Starship versions exclusively dedicated to RaptorSL will go into orbit as a kind of interim solution. The fact that SpaceX is already considering an accelerated vacuum variant bodes well for the current state of engine testing at sea level. Musk admitted that the development of RaptorVac should be delayed to a few days from the first large static fire. Raptor scale in February 2019.
Less than four months ago, the goal of delaying the development of RaptorVac was "to reach the moon as quickly as possible". As long as a spacecraft powered by unoptimized Raptors would be able to reach the Moon, designing with RaptorVac in the lead would create delays without adding short-term benefits. The most obvious reasons why SpaceX would reverse the RaptorVac strategy are changes in technical confidence (that is, large-scale Raptor tests run better than expected) or SpaceX's motivation to travel to the Moon. "As fast as possible".
This last explanation is certainly possible, especially in the light of recent indications that there is a final lack of funding and congressional interest in NASA's proposed return of the moon. SpaceX has its own business motives for Starship to travel quickly to the moon, including a contract with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. As a result, it seems more likely that SpaceX's Raptor program is progressing rapidly, exceeding the expectations of those who hold the strategic reins of the company.
According to Musk, the development of Raptor optimized for sea level is taking place so that SpaceX could be able to switch to a relatively large production – more than two engines a week – this summer (from June 1 to August 31). For now, SpaceX seems focused on the Raptor test at its McGregor, Texas, development facility. This is not surprising for an advanced rocket engine less than four months after large-scale testing, since unexpected or unexpected behavior inevitable revealed during test shots can often lead to design optimizations or even major changes.
Since the first finalized version of Raptor was delivered to McGregor in late January, SpaceX has averaged a new engine per month, all of which have been tested in Texas. After completing its McGregor acceptance tests, the SN03 also became the first Raptor engine to leave the ground on its own as part of Starhopper's first two captive leaps. According to Musk, Starhopper could return in "flight" as of May 31.
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