Merlin engine (rocket)
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The Merlin engine is a lower stage gas generator cycle RP-1 kerosene/liquid oxygen gas-generator rocket engine. The Merlin engine was developed for use on the Falcon I and Falcon V rockets by SpaceX and is designed for sea recovery and reuse.
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Engine details
Performance
- Sea level thrust: 71,500 lbf (318 kN)
- Vacuum thrust: 85,000 lbf (378 kN)
- Sea level Isp: 261 s (2.6 kNs/kg)
- Vacuum Isp: 310 s (3.0 kNs/kg)
- Thrust-to-weight (fully accounted): 94
Note: performance specifications subject to change upon further testing
Operations
- Fuel: RP-1 rocket grade kerosene
- Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen
Sources and external resources
- SpaceX Falcon engines page (http://www.spacex.com/index.html?section=falcon&content=http%3A//www.spacex.com/falcon_engines.php)
- Race for Next Space Prize Ignites (http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697,66308,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1): Wired article describing successful test firing