Another Raptor Engine Eats Itself |

Test Description:

An anomaly with a Raptor Engine at SpaceX's McGregor test site occurred at 3:09:10 PM CDT on Monday, July 15, 2024. The Raptor Engine, which was tested on the Raptor Tripod test stand, ignited at 3:07:47 PM CDT, and fired for approximately 84 seconds before an anomaly occurred which resulted in a phenomenon known as engine rich combustion, resulting in a premature end to the test. It is unlikely that the cause of this anomaly will be publicly disclosed.
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Anomaly Description:

When off-nominal conditions occur in rocket engines, it is possible for the engine to undergo a phenomenon known as "engine rich combustion". This is when the superheated exhaust from the engine starts to corrode the nozzle. When this happens in a raptor engine, the exhaust turns green as copper, the material used in nozzle, burns away.

It is possible that the anomaly that occurred was not engine rich combustion due to the lack of its characteristic green color.
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My Thoughts on the Test:

The following is just my opinion and should not be taken as fact.

I believe that these recent engine failures are attempting to recrate the conditions that led to the engine failures on IFT-4 in order to better understand them and to improve reliability on future flights.
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Footage of this event is from @NASASpaceflight 's McGregor Live stream which provides live views of all tests from the McGregor Test Facility.
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McGregor Live:
https://www.youtube.com/live/cOmmvhDQ...

See Also:

Starbase Live:
https://www.youtube.com/live/mhJRzQsL...

Space Coast Live:
https://www.youtube.com/live/Jm8wRjD3...

*Disclaimer: My channel is not ment to criticize or discredit the efforts of SpaceX or any other companies. Please keep in mind that this is, quite literally, rocket science, and things are bound to encounter issues from time to time. The goal with my channel is to provide an archive of interesting rocket / rocket engine tests. I do not seek to gain a profit from these videos nor do I seek to claim the work of others as my own.