Gov’t Shutdown Ends – Watch SpaceX Test the Merlin Engine

To celebrate the reopening of the US govt and hence,the opportunity for SpaceX to perform the static fire test for Falcon Heavy, check out this test of the Merlin Engine. The Merlin is the engine used for the Falcon 9 rockets and will also be powering the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.

According to SpaceX, “Burning liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellant, a single Merlin engine emits 845 kilonewtons (190,000 pounds) of thrust at liftoff, rising to 914 kilonewtons (205,500 pounds) as it climbs out of Earth’s atmosphere. Merlin’s thrust-to-weight ratio exceeds 150, making the Merlin the most efficient booster engine ever built, while still maintaining the structural and thermal safety margins needed to carry astronauts.”
Image – SpaceX