NASA wants to know how the launch industry's chic new rocket fuel explodes

NASA is conducting explosive tests to evaluate the safety and performance of methalox rocket engines—propulsion systems that burn methane and liquid oxygen. SpaceX's Raptor and Blue Origin's BE-4 are the most powerful methalox engines in operation, each producing over 500,000 pounds of thrust and powering vehicles including SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn. Methalox engines offer advantages over traditional rocket fuels: methane leaves less sooty residue than kerosene, making it better for reusable rockets, and is easier to handle than liquid hydrogen, which requires storage at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit. The shift toward methane-fueled engines began about 15 years ago as companies sought alternatives to the refined kerosene, hydrazine, and solid propellants that have dominated large rocket design for over 60 years. These tests will help determine operational limits and safety protocols for the next generation of heavy-lift launch vehicles.