Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Methane Rocket Engine Development

Because of low toxicity and low reactivity, methane and oxygen are identified as “green propellants”, and have the highest performance (as measured in ISP) of any practical rocket propellants, except oxygen/hydrogen. Investigation into green propellant rocket engines identified liquid oxygen (LOX)/methane (CH₄) as an excellent candidate for upper stage applications. This paper discusses work in LOX/CH₄ engine development carried out by XCOR Aerospace, Inc.