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Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by mabbo on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @12:39PM (#24062762)
> Not sure why SpaceX haven't invested in it yet

> an a air-hydrogen mix breathing-rocket hybrid design

Tough to use a breathing rocket anywhere but Earth. And SpaceX's goal is to use this to land on the Moon, Mars, everywhere.

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by Ajedi32 on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @01:37PM (#24063365)
That's true for Starship (the second stage) but AFAIK Super Heavy (the first stage) will only ever be used on Earth. Seems like an air-breathing rocket engine could potentially be good for that use-case.
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by yazaddaruvala on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @05:52PM (#24066043)
One benefit of Raptor is that its designed to be mass produced. Achieving cost efficiencies with scale.

Adding another engine means, one more production line each with less production volume (i.e. less efficiency of scale).

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by shdh on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @03:38PM (#24064699)
Then you have to introduce another system (SABRE) and integrate it with your system instead of just using the same Raptor engines being used in the second stage vehicle.
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by simonh on Friday August 07, 2020 @06:08AM (#24080290)
Air breathing engines don't work well with the flight profile of vertical launch systems. Sabre wont develop near enough thrust to get a Super Heavy + Starship stack off the ground.