First it really broke no new ground in rocketry.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/06/opinions/elon-musk-has-launched-a-breathtaking-new-space-age-seymour/index.html
Apparently those who wrote on the topic often know sh1t about the subject:
"Correction: An earlier version of this commentary incorrectly characterized SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket as bigger and more powerful than the Saturn V rockets that carried men to the moon a half-century ago...."
And the specific fuel consumption is nothing to brag about.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(rocket_engine_family
|
Isp (vac.) |
304.8 s (3.0 km/s)[12] |
|
Isp (SL) |
275 s (2.6 km/s) |
Chinese cz-5 booster engines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_5
SL: 300 seconds (2.9 km/s)
Vac: 335 seconds
Russian RD-180 engines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-180
|
Isp (vac.) |
338 s (3.31 km/s) |
|
Isp (SL) |
311 s (3.05 km/s) |
The russian RD180 is still the champ among kerosene engine
Its said to be much cheaper I think due to 2 reasons:
1)Other yankie rocket makers make hefty profit
2)Elon Musk's co. has access to manpower and tech the R&D costs of which were covered decades ago
it managed to cluster a large number(27) small engines something the russian had during the 60s&70s tried but failed
