Rocket Engines

Contemplating the expansion ratio and mach number of miscellaneous high-expansion rocket engines. The mach number is from Figure 3.1 on page 39, assuming a specific heat ratio of 1.3:

ratio

mach

Saturn V first stage F1

16.1

4.01

Saturn V 2nd/3rd J2

27.5

4.50

Apollo SM AJ10-137

62.5

5.31

Shuttle SSME RS-25

77.5

5.53

SpaceX Merlin Vacuum 1C

14.5

3.91

SpaceX Merlin Vacuum 1D

165

6.36

Laser Ablation Thrust

2.95

2.50