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Air Force

Musk Likes Methane Engine For Next-Generation Rocket Engine Program

Pat Host

Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

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Musk Likes Methane Engine For Next-Generation Rocket Engine Program

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk speaks during an April 25, 2014, press conference in Washington. Photo: SpaceX.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk prefers a methane engine if the Defense Department decides to pursue a next-generation liquid rocket engine program. Musk said a next-generation engine should be methane because it has a higher specific impulse capability than kerosene, which fuels the Russian-made RD-180 engine currently used in many national security space launches. Specific impulse determines the thrust of a rocket and indicates engine efficiency. An engine with a higher value of specific…

Congress

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Congress

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Pentagon

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