From this private company there are two rocket engines, one for the main phase called “Merlin” and another for upper stages known as “Kestrel”.

-Both engines run on Liquid Oxygen and RP-1, the special kerosene for rocket engines.

“Space-X, Merlin”

-The Merlin gives 77,000 lbf of thrust at sea level for 265 sec and 92,000 lbf in vacuum for 305 sec. (until 2004 it was considered 38,550 Kgf for 310 sec specific impulse: I_sp).

“Space-X, Kestrel”

-The Kestrel gives 7,000 lbf for 327 sec. Both engines have been used in 2006 in the US Defense programs called DARPA, at the Vandenberg military base.

From Appendix 6: In addition to defense programs, it also participates in the “X-Prizes Foundation” competition with its rockets and engines. (see main text).

-They used the open-cycle Merlin 1C version mounted in two engine clusters on the Falcon-9 rocket for said competition.

-We located some pictures of the Space-X clusters based on Merlin engines and are shown below.

“Merlin clusters”

-Each Merlin engine, gives approximately a thrust of 556 kN (125,000 lbf) at sea level and in vacuum it rose to 617 kN (138,000 lbf), with specific impulses (I_sp) being respectively 275s and 304s.

“Running Space-X Merlin engine”

-The fuel (kerosene) and the oxidizer are forced by a turbine-driven pump and a shaft with double impeller, one for each liquid.

-Interestingly, the pressure reached by the kerosene is used to drive the engine actuators as well, eliminating the need for a parallel pressure hydraulic system.

-The turbine exhaust is also used to be conveniently directed and helping to control the vehicle.

-For the X-Prize project, the first stage called Falcon-9 carries precisely nine Merlin engines.

“The 9 Merlins of the Falcon-9”

From Appendix 9: The following rocket engines exist from this civil company, listed in the main text:

-Kestrel,
-Merlin-1A, -1C y -1V.

From Appendix 10: A new Merlin 1D engine, based on the Merlin 1C, is already in use.

“Merlin 1D vs Merlin 1C”

-The 1C is replaced by the 1D in the “Grashopper” project, a reusable rocket that has already successfully completed its tests.

-The interesting thing about Space-X's engines and vehicles is their lower cost and rapid availability, which has challenged NASA and Ariane projects.

“The Merlin 1-D running"

From Appendix 12: Below we show a photograph of the Merlin 1D engine. It was used in the last and successful mission of the end-beginning of the year (2016-2017), after several resounding failures with rockets from this company.

-Below se show some new photographs of the Merlin engine that are installed in the space projects of the private company (collaborating with NASA), Space-X.

-Precisely this February 9, (year?), a milestone was achieved by launching the Falcon 9 towards the ISS station and the first phase returning alone to the launch base.

“Merlin rocket engine” (Design)

“Multiple Merlin Falcon cluster”

“Real photo of a Space-X Merlin”

“Space-X for Mars”

“Launch to the station”

“Carrier returns to base in February 2017”

“In a previous test on a sea platform”

From Appendix 13: For all projects, this company contracted by NASA, builds its own engines, the Merlins.

“Merlin 1D engine, behind a cluster of Merlins”