News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by kuschku on Tuesday May 16, 2017 @04:10AM (#14348102)
Correct. SpaceX engines are very old, unsophisticated designs — SpaceX prefers to spend more time on the rest of the rocket.

If you want to see the most advanced rocket engine on the planet, look at Arianespace's Vulcain instead. But it can't be used for vertical landings in the current version.

Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by gozur88 on Tuesday May 16, 2017 @05:39PM (#14353544)
The Merlin engines are using plain-vanilla technology, but the Raptor is going to be bleeding edge with a full flow staged combustion cycle.
Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by ge96 on Tuesday May 16, 2017 @06:55AM (#14348660)
What about Aerospike engines? haha nah, those things are just weird though wedges instead of delhaaval nozzles
Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by nickik on Tuesday May 16, 2017 @03:25PM (#14352472)
What are you talking about Vulcain is just a hydrolox gas-generator cycle.

SpaceX Raptor engine, BlueOrigin BE-4, Space Shuttle Main Engine and a number of others are far more impressive then the Vulcain.

Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by kuschku on Tuesday May 16, 2017 @04:06PM (#14352833)
I give you Raptor and BE-4, but Vulcain is definitely a lot more interesting than Merlin and the Space Shuttle engines.
Re:SpaceX Launches Super-Heavy Communications Satellite by nickik on Thursday May 18, 2017 @12:19PM (#14368504)
Why? SSME is the highest performance engine ever, it a fuel rich staged combustion.

Marlin is mostly interesting because of its thrust-to-weight ratio, but there I might agree with you.