I have got to get me one of these:
A NASA contractor has built a test engine that runs on methane. That image is from a movie of the test firing, and yes, you want to see it. Make sure the sound is turned up. So so cool. Methane is a pretty good fuel. For one thing, it doesn't have to be kept as cold as other fuels, making it easier to make and use. You don't need such thick tanks for it, which saves weight, and it's a safe substance (a spill wouldn't be all that toxic). The linked article about this is pretty informative, but one thing it doesn't have is the comparative thrust of methane versus, say, what's being used now on expendable rockets. If the bang isn't worth the saving in bucks then it hardly matters. This particular engine had a 7500 pound thrust, which is ...
