SpaceX Raptor 1 vs Raptor 2 vs Raptor 3: Side by side comparison

SpaceX has shared new information about Raptor 3, the next-generation Raptor engine and it’s good to have a look at a comparison with Raptor 1 and 2. Design and hardware are the two aspects of these three engines and how SpaceX simplified them with each generation.

Raptor 1

The first Raptor comes with a lot of complicated stuff on the engine side. It generated about 185 tf of thrust at sea level and helped the company to test out the Starship in the initial stage.

It has a specific impulse of 350s, an engine mass of 2080kg, and its engine + vehicle-side commodities and hardware mass combined at 3630 kg.

Raptor 2

Compared to that, Raptor 2 has improved the thrust at 230 tf at sea level. It delivers 347s specific impulse, 1630kg engine mass, and 2875kg engine + vehicle-side commodities and hardware mass.

SpaceX Raptor 1, 2 and 3 Comparison (Source – SpaceX)

Raptor 3

This new engine takes these parameters to a new level. Raptor 3’s thrust is 280tf, which is way more than the second version. Specific impulse is slightly increased at 350s, engine mass reduced to 1525kg, and engine + vehicle-side commodities and hardware mass reached 1720 kg.

SpaceX Raptor 3 Engine (Source – SpaceX)

A side-by-side comparison image of the Raptor 1, 2, and 3 reveals the difference in size and design. You can see on the right side that Raptor 3 has a well-managed and efficient engine compared to its predecessors.

SpaceX Raptor 1, 2 and 3 Comparison (Source – SpaceX)

This design enabled the company to cut unnecessary weight and eliminated the need for engine heatshields. The new engine could majorly contribute to the design of the next Starship.