RE-M3 "Mainsail" Liquid Fuel Engine

RE-M3 "Mainsail" Liquid Fuel Engine
Liquid fuel engine by Rockomax Conglomerate
Radial size		Large
Cost	(total)	13 000.00
Mass	(total)	6.000 t
Drag		0.2
Max. Temp.		2000 K
Impact Tolerance		7 m/s
Research		Heavier Rocketry
Unlock cost		38 000
Since version		0.16
Part configuration		liquidEngineMainsail_v2.cfg
Maximum thrust	(1 atm)	1 379.03 kN
	(vacuum)	1 500.00 kN
Isp	(1 atm)	285 s
	(vacuum)	310 s
Fuel consumption		98.68 /s
Thrust vectoring		2 °
Electricity generated		12.0 ⚡/s
Testing Environments
On the surface		Yes
In the ocean		Yes
On the launchpad		Yes
In the atmosphere		Yes
Sub-orbital		Yes
In an orbit		Yes
On an escape		Yes
Docked		No
Test by staging		Yes
Manually testable		Yes

The Rockomax "Mainsail" Liquid Engine is one of the heaviest and most powerful large-diameter engine among the stock parts. It is usually used to provide thrust for larger rockets and lower stages. It is typically fueled by large diameter liquid fuel tanks like the Rockomax X200-32 Fuel Tank. Prior to version 0.23.5 it was the largest engine, as well as the one with the highest thrust. Those titles, however, are now held by the S3 KS-25x4 Engine Cluster.

Usage

The Mainsail is a common choice for lifting large stacks of liquid fuel tanks into orbit and beyond, or propelling large heavy lift vehicles. As of 0.24^[outdated], this is one of four size 2 engines. The thrust vectoring also gives it good pitch and yaw control, greatly easing first stage stability, though care must be taken to not allow S.A.S. to tear the ship apart. The thrust-to-weight ratio of this engine is excellent. The specific impulse is also fairly good, though it can still consume large amounts of fuel.

The high thrust of this engine, combined with thrust vectoring can destroy poorly built rockets in the middle of ascents. Throttling down or locking the vectoring is often recommended. Prior to version .22 the Mainsail would tend to quickly explode from overheating when run on maximum throttle and placed under a Rockomax Jumbo-64 Fuel Tank. Though this has been resolved, other parts may encounter the same bug. Placing a small strut or fuel tank between the engine and the Jumbo-64 will mitigate this.

Product description

“

A monster of an engine for heavy lifting purposes, the Mainsail's power rivals that of entire small nations.

”

Changes

0.24

• cost increased (850 → 5650), specific impulse increased (280-330 → 320-360)

0.22

• heatProduction reduced from 500 to 400, as a work around to heat transfer bugs with the Jumbo-64

0.17

• Renamed from LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine to Rockomax "Mainsail" Liquid Engine, thrust increased (1200 → 1500), mass decreased (7 → 6), new description

0.16

• Initial release