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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

House Sends Dec. 11 CR With Ship Construction Funds To Trump’s Desk For Final Signature

The House on Tuesday passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the government open through Dec. 11, sending the temporary funding measure that also includes funds to support ongoing shipbuilding […]

Missile Defense

Guetlein On Golden Dome: ‘We Cannot Protect This Nation And Bankrupt It At The Same Time’

While there has been criticism among missile defense advocates of Golden Dome’s development pace after the signing of an executive order in January last year, Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, […]

Missile Defense

Interview with Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), co-chair of the Golden Dome Caucus

Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), a co-chair of the Golden Dome Caucus in Congress and a member of the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces panel, discusses the transformative defense investments […]

Space

Space Force PAE For Infrastructure Completing Move To Colorado Springs

U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for infrastructure–a $4 billion contracting hub for SSC–is completing a move from Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. to […]