Rocket Lab Neutron Methalox engine

Rocket Lab's Peter Beck made a hilarious claim that you can "eat your lunch out of the tailpipe of a Methalox engine". Well kind-of...

The choice of rocket engine architecture is key when designing a reusable rocket engine. While a fuel like RP-1 (derived from Kerosene) is simple and storable (non cryogenic), it burns dirty and generates a lot of soot. But upgrading to Methane as a fuel source results in a cleaner burning propellant. This means that engineers spend less time deskunging and cleaning the engine. The engine trade is key in developing a rapidly reusable launch vehicle!

#rocketlab #rocketlabneutron #space

[Aeri]

Engineers dont clean SHIT technicians do

[SAACAAS]

Aerospike by Pangea Aerospace is Methalox about 3 years ago.

[snakevenom]

This isn't exactly true. RP-1 can burn cleanly provided enough oxygen is mixed in. It, in theory, should only produce water and co2. However, engines cannot run at stoichoimetric ratios. Too hot. So they tend to run fuel rich since Lox is super heavy and a pain to cool things down with since it'll feed fires if there are any while Methane or RP-1 would extinguish them.

Archimedes is an Oxygen Rich cycle. It was supposed to be GG but given the performance boost from a closed cycle and how Ox Rich is just so much better than fuel rich (more thrust for the same pump pressures, ) it's a no brainer.

However, RP-1 can also be made closed cycle with an Ox Rich cycle. That's what RFA is doing with their RFA 1 rocket. And RP-1 provides better performance than methane so they did kinda shoot themselves in the foot in this metric but there is one more metric where Methane becomes the better solution.

As you tanks of propellant start to lower, you need to maintain the pressure in the tanks. Make sure your LOX doesn't phase change into GOX and it'll also help push the liquids down during flight. So for Kerolox Rockets (RP-1, ) they use Helium COPV's to pressurize the tanks. It's a simple system that's extremely effective. Issue is, is cost. Liquid Helium is super expensive. SpaceX pay more in Liquid Helium per flight than propellant for Falcon 9. But with Methalox, you have the added benefit of autogenous pressurization. You add some heat sinks into your engines, run some propellant through them, and take that back into the tank to maintain pressure. Engines remain in their ideal temperature, tanks remain pressurized, and life is good. No added cost of liquid helium and although autogenous pressurization will cause some issues at the start, the iterative design process will save you millions in the long run

[laurynas]

Just use hydrogen and oxygen, only things it produces is water

[wayoutwillysstockmarketwat]

LASE has exactly the product that will do it much better. Already working with the Navy for all of its sterile products and they can work on delicate that abound inside the miracle upon

[bharath]

U guys talk as if SPACEX doesn't exist

[techshark]

Hellz yes, that's right Rocket lab, keep copying spaceX go baby go....

[cbongiova]

Wow!!! So you’re telling me they copied SpaceX!!! What geniuses they got there. SMH

[wayoutwillysstockmarketwat]

LASE has exactly the product that will do it much better. Already working with the Navy for all of its sterile products and they can work on delicate that abound inside the miracle upon