SpaceX revealed New Raptor 4 Upgrade, BETTER & ADVANCED than ever...

SpaceX revealed New Raptor 4 Upgrade, BETTER & ADVANCED than ever...
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#spacezone #space #raptor
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SpaceX revealed New Raptor 4 Upgrade, BETTER & ADVANCED than ever...
The upcoming version of Starship will be equipped with Raptor 3 — a stunning piece of engineering that looks almost too sleek to be real. It’s the latest evolution of SpaceX’s high-end rocket engine, and it’s already pushing the limits of what’s possible.
But here’s the thing — SpaceX isn’t stopping there. Behind the scenes, they’re already planning the next version: Raptor 4.
Wait, how do you even top Raptor 3? Well, here’s what Elon Musk has to say about SpaceX’s next-generation engine.
SpaceX revealed New Raptor 4 Upgrade, BETTER & ADVANCED than ever...
Before we jump into SpaceX’s new engine, let’s rewind a bit to 2019. Back then, Elon Musk shared some concerns about the Raptor engine, saying:
“SpaceX Merlin architecture is simpler than staged combustion (SSME or RD), but it has world record for thrust/weight & thrust/cost engine. Raptor has better Isp, but I’m worried it may fall short on those two critical metrics.”
So, what was he talking about?
The Merlin engine’s design philosophy is all about simplicity and practicality. It uses what’s called a gas-generator cycle, where a small portion of the fuel and oxidizer is burned in a separate preburner to power the turbopumps. The exhaust from that process is just vented away, which wastes a bit of energy—but it keeps things much simpler. Lower pressures, fewer moving parts, and easier manufacturing all make Merlin cheaper, lighter, and more reliable.
SpaceX revealed New Raptor 4 Upgrade, BETTER & ADVANCED than ever...
Despite its simplicity, Merlin is a beast. It holds records for both thrust-to-weight and thrust-to-cost ratios, meaning it delivers more punch for its mass and more thrust for every dollar spent than any other engine out there. And because SpaceX mass-produces it so efficiently, it’s incredibly cost-effective.
Raptor, on the other hand, plays in a different league. It uses a full-flow staged combustion cycle, one of the most advanced rocket engine designs ever built. In this setup, all of the propellant runs through two preburners—one fuel-rich, one oxidizer-rich—before entering the main combustion chamber. This squeezes out every bit of performance, giving Raptor a much higher specific impulse (Isp), which means it uses fuel more efficiently.
The trade-off is that Raptor runs at much higher pressures, needs tougher materials, and involves far more intricate plumbing. That makes it heavier and costlier to produce—at least until manufacturing is fully streamlined.
That’s what Musk meant when he worried that Raptor might “fall short” on thrust-to-weight and thrust-to-cost compared to Merlin. Raptor’s efficiency was better, but its bang-for-buck and lightness per thrust weren’t quite there yet.