> - the raptor engine. This was developed behind closed doors and is sort of finished. We won't see much of it, but it is the most advanced rocket engine ever made and I'm not aware of any upcoming engine that can compete with it.
I believe the Raptor is the first actually working full flow staged combustion engine. It is sort of a holy-grail of engine for liquid rockets. Tim Dodd has a lot more info on it here:
However please call it what it really is. It isn't a belly flop so much as it is a skydiver maneuver. Just like how a skydiver splays out their arms and legs to maintain stability and slow down a bit, starship will do the same. Also like a skydiver, it will upright itself before landing as a belly flop would almost guarantee a RUD.
I believe the Raptor is the first actually working full flow staged combustion engine. It is sort of a holy-grail of engine for liquid rockets. Tim Dodd has a lot more info on it here:
https://everydayastronaut.com/raptor-engine/
However please call it what it really is. It isn't a belly flop so much as it is a skydiver maneuver. Just like how a skydiver splays out their arms and legs to maintain stability and slow down a bit, starship will do the same. Also like a skydiver, it will upright itself before landing as a belly flop would almost guarantee a RUD.