Raptor engine

A comparison of SpaceX's two main rocket engines, the Merlin and the Raptor, is drawing attention. Merlin, which burns rocket-grade kerosene, powers the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, while the methane-fuelled Raptor drives the Starship program. The discussion focuses on how the engines differ in fuel, design, thrust and reusability, and what those trade-offs mean for SpaceX's current and future missions.