> Why do those rockets have a fuel filter at all? 1. Launch vibration is real. There's a reason why the Merlin 1 engine has to survive a nut being fed into the

> Why do those rockets have a fuel filter at all? 1. Launch vibration is real. There's a reason why the Merlin 1 engine has to survive a nut being fed into the fuel and oxidizer lines while running.[1] 2. My understanding with this particular issue is that SpaceX uses autogenous pressurization. It pressurizes the LOx tank with the output from the oxygen-rich preburner. Well, that output is mostly oxygen, but it contains various hydrocarbons. Which, when combined with pure oxygen can form ice and dry ice. It's generally not good to feed solid CO2 and H2O into a high performance turbopump that's designed to accept liquid oxygen. --- 1. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/is-spacex-changing-the-rocket-equation-132285884/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/is-spacex-...