Elon Musk Revealed Problems on Raptor 3 engines, but New Goal is Crazy…

The Raptor 3 has arrived. Carrying with it high expectations. But is it perfect yet? Recently, problems seem to have emerged, especially after confirmation from Musk. But the crazy goals remain. So what is happening with the Raptor 3? What crazy things is SpaceX aiming for with this engine version? In its latest effort, SpaceX impressed with a roll and test of both the S39 and B19. The main focus, of course, is the engines. This is the first time we've seen a complete lineup of Raptor 3 engines assembled like this. It's truly a sight to behold, looking less like a traditional rocket engine and more like something pulled out of a futuristic laboratory where the scientists have a healthy obsession with shiny integrated components. But is it truly perfect? Or has it met SpaceX's expectations? Let's find out on today's episode of Great SpaceX. After the roll, Elon Musk proudly praised the appearance of the Raptor 3 engines on the B19. Then, an X account lauded the thrust that the Raptor 3 engines could generate. But surprisingly, Musk made a rather modest revelation. Specifically, he said, less thrust than that today. This means that the B19 test attempt, although it may look very powerful, the 33 engines did not reach the maximum power of over 9,200 tons of thrust as many expected. Why is that? In reality, even during testing or operation, the engine probably won't be pushed to its maximum power. The reported thrust usually comes from the results of individual engine tests. When combined, trying to push everything to the limit can overload the engine. Remember, during operation, the engine not only supports takeoff, but will also be switched on and off many times afterward. It's like taking 33 highly caffeinated thoroughbred horses and trying to get them to pull a carriage in a perfectly synchronized line at a full gallop at their very first day together. Something is bound to get a little messy. But what makes us suspicious is Musk's seemingly pessimistic response. If less thrust is an obvious problem, why would he mention it here? So, this might be hinting at something else. A major question lies in the Raptor 3's turbopump. With a full flow-staged combustion cycle, both methane and liquid oxygen are passed through separate turbopumps at extremely high pressure before entering the combustion chamber. When thrust is increased, the rotational speed and mechanical load of the turbopump increase exponentially, leading to the risk of cavitation in a cryogenic environment. Cavitation is a nasty little phenomenon where bubbles form in the liquid because of the speed and when they collapse. They can send shockwaves that eat through metal like it's made of wet sugar. Even the formation of tiny air bubbles in the liquid oxygen stream can cause vibrations, reduce flow, and destabilize the entire system. It's like trying to drink a thick milkshake through a very thin straw as fast as you possibly can. Eventually, the physics just gives up and you get brain freeze. But in a rocket engine, that brain freeze results in an explosion, so one could say you'll get your mind blown. Furthermore, increasing output pressure requires impellers and bearings capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures, centrifugal forces, and friction. In fact, the RS-25 engine has had to operate below its design power in many missions due to turbopump durability limitations. Demonstrating this is a very difficult bottleneck to overcome. In the combustion chamber, high pressure increases efficiency and thrust but also pushes the system to the limits of the material. The Raptor is renowned for having some of the highest combustion chamber pressures ever built and the Raptor 3 is likely to push this even further. This increases the risk of combustion instability. Micropressure fluctuations during combustion can resonate and turn into destructive vibrations. It's like a singer hitting a note so high and so perfect that every window in the neighborhood shatters at the same exact time. Methane regenerative cooling must also function perfectly to avoid hot spots that could crack or burn through the chamber walls. The history of the F-1 shows that NASA had to test hundreds of injector configurations to eliminate oscillations before achieving stability and even then, the operating amplitude had to be very tightly controlled. I once tried to explain this to my neighbor while he was struggling to light his charcoal grill and he just looked at me like I was speaking Martian. For SpaceX though, this is the difference between a trip to the moon and a very expensive hole in the ground at Starbase. Another bottleneck may lie in the fuel delivery system from the fuel tank to the engine. To achieve high thrust for each engine, methane and oxygen flow rates need to be significantly increased leading to higher demands on tank pressure, pipeline strength, and throttle valve responsiveness. Any pressure drop in the feed line or oscillation in the pressurization system can cause the mixture ratio to deviate from optimal, reducing combustion efficiency. Additionally, when multiple engines operate simultaneously on a large booster, coupling between fuel lines can occur, creating pressure oscillations that propagate throughout the system. This is a problem that has appeared in many large rocket designs, forcing engineers to sacrifice some maximum power to ensure long-term stability. It's the plumbing equivalent of a feedback loop at a rock concert. If you don't manage the signal, the whole thing turns into a screeching mess that ruins the show for everyone. Besides Musk's recent revelations, let's not forget the recent engine issue. Specifically, the unusually large explosion at the McGregor engine test facility. Most predictions so far to SpaceX intentionally doing this to test the engine's limits. However, there's still a possibility the incident stemmed from a problem with a part of the engine, evidenced by the larger-than-usual explosion. SpaceX hasn't provided an update yet, but it clearly raises concerns about the engine, especially after Musk's further confirmation of thrust. I remember one time I tried to modify my espresso machine to get more pressure, thinking I was a kitchen-bound rockin' scientist. I ended up painting my ceiling with espresso grounds and scaring my cat so badly she didn't come out from under the sofa for two days. SpaceX is doing that, but with millions of dollars and enough liquid oxygen to freeze a lake. Do you think the Raptor 3 is having problems? Let me know with a yes or a no, and share your thoughts in the comments down below. Then don't forget to like the video and subscribe to our channel to continue following SpaceX's development journey. Clearly, the challenge is immense, but this is the SpaceX team. They remain incredibly confident in pursuing further milestones. You all know that the Raptor 3 currently achieves 280 tons of thrust at sea level. Combining those three smaller units, Starship has the world's strongest takeoff thrust, exceeding 9,200 tons. But that won't be the limit. Many revelations from Musk have mentioned Raptor 3X or Raptor 4, which will have even greater thrust. Raptor 4 will likely appear later, but signs of Raptor 3 are likely already there. In the same update mentioned above, Musk mentioned the long-term target reaching 300 tons. With this thrust, it seems it will be a 3X version, based on improvements to the current Raptor 3. As a result, by combining the 33 engines, SpaceX will approach a launch thrust of 10,000 tons, or 10 kilotons as Musk calls it, for Starship. Reaching 10,000 tons of launch thrust will set a new standard for power in the space rocket industry. To achieve this, upgrades will need to be meticulously carried out on each engine, then applied synchronously. Imagine a choir of 33 giant fire-breathing metal monsters all hitting a high C at exactly the same microsecond. It's terrifying and beautiful at the same time. SpaceX is pushing Raptor through an evolution that seems to defy physics. But increasing combustion chamber pressure from 250 bar in Raptor 1 up to 350 bar in Raptor 3, they are generating greater thrust without increasing engine size. It's like taking a bodybuilder and shrinking them down to the size of a gymnast, all while keeping every single ounce of their strength. Widening the injector throat further boosts thrust by allowing greater fuel flow. It's the engineering equivalent of opening up the faucet all the way. You might waste a little more water, but you get a lot more pressure to wash the mud off your tires. Additionally, improving the injector and combustion process ensures stable, complete burns. It's like the difference between a car engine that is sputtering and knocking, and one that is purring like a kitten. A very large, very angry, space-faring kitten. By optimizing turbo machinery and regenerative cooling, SpaceX is maximizing energy conversion while preventing the hardware from melting under the strain. Despite current operational hurdles, we are witnessing a masterclass in iterative design. We'll never know what the ultimate limits are for Starship and the Raptor engine. Reliability also needs to be enhanced as Raptor 3 will face many challenges ahead. Following Flight 12, Flight 13 is now planned to get the Starship into orbit. Reaching orbit will be a much more challenging level than current near-orbit flights, because after reaching orbit, it'll have to return and re-entry will be a major challenge. Not to mention that once in orbit, Starship will travel further, with the goal of bringing the Starship back to starbase or pushing it further towards targets like the Moon and Mars. The challenge for Raptor 3 will be much greater. The tasks for the Raptor 3 will also be more numerous. It'll have to support the navigation of the vehicle in orbit for tasks such as deploying payloads or navigating for refueling. In addition, the Starship V3 will land more frequently and continuously. These are new tasks that Raptor 3 will have to perform compared to its predecessor. Of course, the Raptor 3 will still perform the basic tasks of launching, separating, and pushing the vehicle. Especially during landing, the Raptor 3 will play a central role in assisting with deceleration and vehicle navigation. Both of these methods require incredibly precise operation down to the second and millimeter. Otherwise, disaster will occur. If the engine fires half a second too late, the landing becomes a very high-speed geological survey of the launch pad. But mastering this will give Starship an unprecedented level in the industry, called Complete Reusability, which will propel Starship to a new level in the industry. The benefits of this capability include cost optimization, allowing for lower launch costs, and advantage in attracting customers while launching more frequently and continuously for greater flexibility. And unlike previous versions, the Raptor 3 must be able to perform these tasks repeatedly. In other words, it must ensure the best possible condition after each mission to achieve the same level of complete and rapid reusability as the vehicle. This has been Kevin from GreatSpaceX. As the hardware evolves and the mission grows more ambitious, we'll be here to break it all down for you piece by piece, engine by engine. We'll look at every bolt, every weld, and every cryptic tweet to make sure you have the full picture of what's happening on the frontier of space exploration. It's a wild ride and I'm glad you are along for it. Until next time, keep your eyes on the stars, stay curious, and keep looking up. The universe is waiting for us and with every second of flight time, we are getting just a bit closer to home. Thank you so much for tuning in and I will see you in the next one. Don't forget to hit that like button if you enjoyed our deep dive today, and leave a comment below about what you think of the new Raptor 3 design. Does it look too simple to be that powerful, or is the simplicity exactly what makes it a game changer? I look forward to reading your theories. Until then, keep looking up.