/sci/ - Science & Math

Baka here,

Hypothetically, how difficult would it be to modify a stock Raptor engine to burn ethalox (C2H6 and LOX)?

My reasoning is that ethane is similar enough to its "little sister" methane to not require drastic changes to the combustion chamber and piping. The benefits could be that it is denser, and because it has a higher boiling point it can be stored at warmer temperatures, but it burns slightly hotter. It also may be more difficult to produce off-world, but it may overall be a better fuel for strictly earth-based raptor applications.