SpaceX fires Raptor 3 engine for the first time

SpaceX has test-fired the Raptor 3 engine for the first time since its public appearance last week. New images surfaced on social media site X showed the engine blowing fire out of the nozzle.

Last week, SpaceX shared the first visuals of the Raptor 3 engine in front of the factory. The key attraction to this new Raptor is its design and it’s the first thing you’ll notice.

The company has shrunk the engine’s top side where all the propellant is processed. Compared to Raptor 1 and Raptor 2, the 3rd version has shrunk that complicated hardware and reduced the size of the rocket by big numbers.

Based on the official details, Raptor 3 boosts 30tf more thrust than Raptor 2, taking the overall thrust to 280tf. The specific impulse is now 350s and the engine mass is reduced to 1525kg (1630kg in the predecessor).

SpaceX Raptor 3 Engine Fire Test (Source – X/Twitter)

With a well-organized engine architecture, the latest Raptor looks way more efficient than 1st and 2nd generation.

Other than the picture, SpaceX has not shared a test engine ignition video. However, Nasaspaceflight has posted a clip on X showing a test fire inside the SpaceX facility, which could be the new engine.

Elisar Priel from NSF reports that the test lasted about 30 seconds on the vertical test stand at the McGregor test site.

30 second test on the vertical test stand at the SpaceX McGregor test site, we believe this is the first test of the Raptor 3 engine. @NASASpaceflight
McGregor Live 24/7 https://t.co/m2zcSH8zdh pic.twitter.com/GlUnQ7AU8Y

— Elisar Priel (@ENNEPS) August 8, 2024

Next-Gen Starship

The new design makes the Raptor more efficient for the next-generation Starship. It will help the company not only increase the power but also make changes in the vehicle structure and increase its payload capacity.

Until then, SpaceX will continue to test this engine to fix bugs and ensure its stability before it can be used in a real launch vehicle.

Related:

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