Boeing: Over the last 4 weeks, we fitted 4 RS-25 engines to the SLS. SpaceX: Hold my beer.

[Dane_in_LA]

And then SpaceX fitted 29 Raptors to a SuperHeavy test stage in one night. It's getting to the point where it's ridiculous.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...et-last-night/

[rjshae]

Well the plus side of that configuration is that it will have plenty of redundancy in case some of the engines fail. Supposedly it can still reach orbit with six failed engines. The negative is more mass. But maybe a smaller engine is easier to maintain for quick turn-around?

For comparison, the Russian R-7 launch vehicle had 20 engines.

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by rjshae

Well the plus side of that configuration is that it will have plenty of redundancy in case some of the engines fail. Supposedly it can still reach orbit with six failed engines. The negative is more mass. But maybe a smaller engine is easier to maintain for quick turn-around?

I would not be surprised if that's the rationale. "Number 16 seems to have had an issue, plop in the spare and let's get it overhauled." Either that, or the engineers have played a lot of Kerbal Space Program and are of the "more engines, more struts" school of thought.

For comparison, the Russian R-7 launch vehicle had 20 engines.

I don't think I ever really realized that fully. N-1 had 30, but - let's not talk about N-1.