Upcoming upgrades to the engine (Merlin 1D) will provide a vast improvement in performance, reliability and manufacturability – all of which could provide a timely boost to aiding the potential for ...

File photo of a Merlin engine being tested. SpaceX said it suffered an anomaly during qualification testing of an engine recently, but that it would not delay upcoming launches. Credit: SpaceX ...

The engine should see its first official use later this year, in Falcon 9’s Flight 6 mission. SpaceX is also using Merlin 1D engines in its Grasshopper reusable launch vehicle. One of the engine tests ...