The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Merlin and Raptor power different SpaceX rockets and use different propulsion designs. Merlin burns liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene in a gas-generator cycle for Falcon vehicles. Raptor burns liquid oxygen and methane in a staged-combustion cycle for Starship. SpaceX says Raptor has twice the thrust of a Falcon 9 Merlin engine, while its current Raptor 3 figures distinguish between sea-level and vacuum versions.
What is the difference between Merlin and Raptor?
The simplest distinction is the vehicle each engine family serves: Merlin is used on SpaceX’s Falcon launch vehicles, while Raptor powers Starship. They also differ in propellant and combustion cycle.
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| Feature | Merlin | Raptor |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX vehicle | Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy | Starship |
| Propellants | Liquid oxygen (LOX) and RP-1 rocket-grade kerosene | Liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane |
| Combustion cycle | Gas generator | Staged combustion |
| Engine configurations | Sea-level Merlin engines and a Merlin Vacuum for Falcon 9’s second stage | Sea-level and vacuum Raptor variants |
SpaceX describes Merlin’s propellants and gas-generator cycle on its Falcon 9 vehicle page. Its Starship page describes Raptor as a reusable methane-oxygen staged-combustion engine. Company testimony reproduced in a 2016 U.S. congressional hearing record specifies full-flow staged combustion; that historical description should not be read as evidence of present-day reliability or service life.
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Merlin’s gas-generator cycle
A gas-generator engine burns some propellant in a separate chamber to produce hot gas that drives the turbomachinery pumps. That exhaust does not pass through the main combustion chamber. SpaceX identifies Merlin as using this cycle; the cited sources do not provide a same-basis comparison of the two engines’ efficiency or reliability.
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Raptor’s staged-combustion cycle
In staged combustion, propellant is partially burned to drive turbomachinery, and the resulting gas is then directed into the main combustion chamber. SpaceX describes Raptor as staged combustion; its testimony in the 2016 hearing calls it full-flow staged combustion. The cycle labels explain design differences, but alone they do not establish which engine is better for every mission.
Which engine is more powerful?
SpaceX says Raptor has twice the thrust of the Falcon 9 Merlin engine. That is the company’s broad comparison, not an independent, same-test-basis result covering every engine revision and operating condition. For a more specific comparison, keep engine variant and measurement basis in view: SpaceX’s current Raptor 3 update gives thrust per engine, whereas the 2025 Falcon guide reports thrust totals for Falcon 9 stages.
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Raptor 3 thrust by variant
| Raptor 3 variant | SpaceX-stated thrust per engine |
|---|---|
| Sea-level | 250 metric tons-force (551,000 lbf) |
| Vacuum | 275 metric tons-force (606,000 lbf) |
These are the variant-specific figures in SpaceX’s current reusability update. The sea-level and vacuum numbers should not be combined or treated as interchangeable.
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How to read Falcon 9 thrust figures
SpaceX’s 2025 Falcon Payload User’s Guide lists 7,686 kN (1,710,000 lbf) for the Falcon 9 first stage, produced by nine Merlin engines, and 981 kN (220,500 lbf) for the second stage, produced by one Merlin Vacuum. Both are stage totals—not the thrust of a single Merlin 1D engine. Comparing either total directly with one Raptor would mix different measurement units.
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Does Raptor use methane while Merlin uses kerosene?
Yes. Merlin uses RP-1, a rocket-grade kerosene, with liquid oxygen. Raptor uses methane with liquid oxygen. These are different propellant choices for different vehicle systems; the cited sources do not establish a universal winner between them independent of mission requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are Merlin and Raptor used on the same rocket?
No. Merlin belongs to the Falcon vehicle family, and Raptor belongs to Starship. Falcon 9’s first stage uses nine Merlin engines and its second stage uses one Merlin Vacuum, according to the 2025 guide. SpaceX describes Starship as using sea-level and vacuum Raptor variants. They are not interchangeable engines in a shared rocket configuration; each is part of a distinct launch-vehicle architecture.
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