DoD gives Raptor engine a boost

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Contracts from the military to continue work on next generation propulsion systems to replace Russian engines is providing a boost to commercial space efforts. The development of the Raptor methane rocket engine received a sizeable boost in January when the Air Force awarded a $33.6 million contract to Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SpaceX. Specifically the work will be to develop the engine for the military's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, used for national security launches. But Raptor is also seen as key to SpaceX's commercial space ventures, and much of the work will be done at Stennis Space Center, Miss., which is already doing R&D work on the next-generation engine. (Source: Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter, 02/09/16)