The Most Advanced Rocket Engine, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the rocket engine you think is the most advanced!

Updated on May 3, 2024 06:16

In the quest for space exploration, rocket engines play a pivotal role, propelling vehicles beyond the Earth's atmosphere with incredible force and precision. As technology advances, the development of more sophisticated and efficient engines is crucial for deeper space missions. Having a solid understanding of which engines are leading in performance can shape future innovations and investments in space technology. By casting your vote on the top rocket engines, you contribute directly to a broader community insight, helping to highlight those designs that are setting the standards for reliability, efficiency, and innovation. Your participation not only informs newcomers but also aids enthusiasts and professionals in identifying which technologies are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in rocketry today.

What Is the Most Advanced Rocket Engine?

1

57
votes
Raptor

SpaceX's Raptor engine is a full-flow staged combustion rocket engine that uses methane and liquid oxygen as propellants. It is highly efficient, reusable, and designed for missions to Mars and beyond.
The Raptor is a highly advanced rocket engine developed by SpaceX.

Thrust: up to 440,000 lbf (1,960 kN)

Propellant: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Methane (CH4)

Cycle: Full-flow staged combustion cycle

Chamber Pressure: up to 3800 psi (26.2 MPa)

Specific Impulse (ISP): 380-382 seconds on Earth; 382-384 seconds in vacuum
2

43
votes
Merlin

The Merlin engine is also from SpaceX and has powered the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. It uses rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen to propel the rocket.
The Merlin engine is a highly advanced rocket engine developed by SpaceX.

Thrust: 190,000 lbf (sea level) or 210,000 lbf (vacuum)

Propellant: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1)

Specific Impulse (Vacuum): 311 seconds

Specific Impulse (Sea Level): 282 seconds

Fuel Mixture Ratio: 2.3:1 (LOX/RP-1)
3

17
votes
RD-180

This Russian-built rocket engine is used to power the Atlas V rocket, and it is highly reliable and efficient.
The RD-180 is a highly advanced liquid-fueled rocket engine used to power various launch vehicles. It is known for its exceptional performance and reliability.

Type: Liquid-fueled

Propellant: RP-1 (Rocket Propellant-1) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX)

Thrust: ~860,000 lbf (3.83 MN)

Specific Impulse (Vacuum): 311 seconds

Mixture Ratio: 2.72
4

11
votes
BE-4

The Blue Origin BE-4 engine is a liquid rocket engine designed for both atmospheric and space flight. It uses a combination of liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as propellants.
The BE-4 is an advanced rocket engine developed by Blue Origin, an aerospace manufacturer founded by Jeff Bezos. It is designed for use in orbital launch vehicles and is one of the most powerful methane-fueled rocket engines in the world.

Thrust: 2,400 kN (550,000 lbf)

Propellant: Liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Engine Cycle: Closed cycle staged combustion

Engine Type: Liquid rocket engine

Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 107
5

12
votes
RS-68A

The RS-68A is an American-built rocket engine used to power the Delta IV rocket. It is highly efficient and has one of the highest thrust-to-weight ratios of any rocket engine.
The RS-68A is a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket engine developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne. It is an advanced version of the original RS-68 engine, specifically designed for use on the Delta IV Medium and Heavy launch vehicles. The engine is known for its high performance and reliability.

Thrust: 702,000 lbf (3.12 MN)

Specific Impulse (Vacuum): 365 seconds (3.58 km/s)

Specific Impulse (Sea Level): 361 seconds (3.54 km/s)

Propellant Type: Liquid Hydrogen/Liquid Oxygen

Jet Engine Cycle: Open cycle
6

18
votes
Vinci

The Vinci engine is from the European Space Agency (ESA) and is used to power the Ariane 5 rocket. It is highly efficient and can be re-ignited multiple times during a mission.
The Vinci is a versatile and advanced cryogenic rocket engine designed for space exploration. It is developed by ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran.

Thrust: 180 kN

Specific Impulse (ISP): 461s (vacuum)

Burn Time: 1000 seconds

Propellant: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) / Liquid Hydrogen (LH2)

Oxidizer-to-fuel ratio: 5.8:1
7

11
votes
NK-33

The NK-33 is a Russian-built rocket engine that was originally designed for the Soviet Union's N1 moon rocket. It has since been refurbished and is now used to power the Orbital Sciences Antares rocket.
The NK-33 is a highly advanced rocket engine primarily used for space exploration. It is a liquid-fueled rocket engine that was originally developed for the Soviet Union's lunar program. The engine is known for its groundbreaking technology and high performance.

Propellant Type: Subcooled liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene (RP-1)

Thrust: 1,600 kN (360,000 lbf)

Specific Impulse (Vacuum): 331 seconds

Chamber Pressure: 17.0 MPa (2,465 psi)

Oxidizer-to-Fuel Ratio: 2.72:1
8

6
votes
J-2X

The J-2X is an American-built rocket engine designed for use on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS). It is highly efficient and reliable and can be used for both atmospheric and spaceflight.
The J-2X is a liquid-fueled rocket engine designed for use on the upper stage of the NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) for deep space missions. It is an advanced version of the J-2 engine used on the Apollo program's Saturn V launch vehicle.

Thrust: 294,000 lbf (1.309 MN)

Specific Impulse (Vacuum): 448 seconds (4,390 N·s/kg)

Fuel: Liquid Hydrogen (LH2)

Oxidizer: Liquid Oxygen (LOX)

Chamber Pressure: 1,150 psi (7.93 MPa)
9

8
votes
LE-7A

The LE-7A is a Japanese-built rocket engine used to power the H-IIA rocket. It is highly efficient and has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 150:1.
The LE-7A is a liquid rocket engine developed by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for use in Japan's H-IIA launch vehicle. It is one of the most advanced rocket engines in Japan's space program.

Thrust: 1,077 kN

Specific impulse: 444 s

Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen (LOX)

Fuel: Liquid hydrogen (LH2)

Burn Time: 480 seconds
10

12
votes
F-1

The F-1 is an American-built rocket engine that was used to power the Saturn V rocket during the Apollo missions. It was one of the most powerful rocket engines ever built and had a thrust of 1.5 million pounds-force at liftoff.
The F-1 is a liquid-fuel rocket engine that was developed for the Saturn V rocket, used by NASA during the Apollo program to send humans to the Moon. It is considered one of the most advanced and powerful rocket engines ever built.

Thrust: 1,510,000 lbf

Specific impulse: 263 seconds

Burn time: 150 seconds

Combustion chamber pressure: 1,000 psi

Fuel: RP-1 (refined kerosene)

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Ranking factors for advanced rocket engine

Specific impulse (Isp)

Specific impulse is a measure of the efficiency of a rocket engine, expressed as the thrust generated per unit weight of propellant consumed per unit time. A higher specific impulse indicates a more efficient engine.
Thrust-to-weight ratio (T/W)

This is the ratio of an engine's thrust to its weight. Engines with higher thrust-to-weight ratios can provide greater acceleration for the same weight, which is favorable for launching rockets into space.
Reliability and safety

An advanced rocket engine needs to be reliable and safe to operate. This includes redundancy in key components, proven operational history, and ease of handling during manufacturing, integration, and field operations.
Reusability

Engines that can be used multiple times are more valuable from an economic and logistical standpoint. Advanced engines should be designed to survive multiple launch and re-entry cycles with minimal refurbishment.
Propellant type

The choice of propellant can have a significant impact on the performance of a rocket engine. Some advanced engines use newer, more efficient propellants, while others rely on traditional propellants that are easier to handle and store.
Engine scalability

The ability of a rocket engine to be scaled for different sized rockets or payloads, while maintaining efficiency and performance, is important for greater flexibility in rocket design.
Advanced materials and manufacturing techniques

The use of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing or composite materials, can lead to lighter engines with better performance or longer life.
Environmental impact

Minimizing the environmental impact of rocket engines, such as using non-toxic propellants and reducing the risk of generating space debris, is an important consideration for advanced engine designs.
Development cost and time

Advanced rocket engines should be developed in a cost-effective and timely manner, which is vital for organizations to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving space industry.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most advanced rocket engine. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or engine is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2667 views
184 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each engine once every 24 hours. The rank of each engine is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most advanced rocket engine

Rocket engines have been the backbone of space exploration since the mid-twentieth century. Today, various advanced rocket engines have been developed to take space travel to new heights. These engines come in different types, including solid, liquid, and hybrid engines. However, the most advanced rocket engines are those that use liquid propellants. These engines are capable of producing higher thrust and are more efficient than their solid counterparts. Some of the most advanced liquid rocket engines include the RS-68 and RS-25 engines used by NASA, the Merlin engine used by SpaceX, and the RD-180 engine used by the United Launch Alliance. These engines represent the pinnacle of rocket engine technology and are paving the way for future space exploration.