April 29, 2024

NASA Conducts Test of Redesigned RS-25 Moon Rocket Engine

NASA conducts an RS-25 hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi on February 8, 2023. Credit: NASA/ Stennis
NASAs recently redesigned RS-25 engine for future flights of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, underwent its first hot fire test of the year on February 8 at the companys Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
The series of testing supports production of new RS-25 engines by lead SLS engine professional Aerojet Rocketdyne. The new engines will help power future Artemis objectives to the Moon start with Artemis V as NASA checks out the universe for the benefit of all.
NASA performs an RS-25 hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi on February 8, 2023. Credit: NASA/ Stennis
The single-engine hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand followed a confidence test in 2022, which tested whether all was all set to proceed with the accreditation series.

Throughout the newest test, engineers fired the RS-25 engine for a complete period of about eight and a half minutes (500 seconds), the exact same quantity of time the engines must run to assist power SLS to space. The RS-25 engine likewise ran at 111% power for the majority of the test, the very same level required to assist lift SLS to orbit. The test featured a range of new components, most of which were installed for the December hot fire. One additional element– a brand-new nozzle– was set up prior to the most current hot fire.
A remote cam provides a close-up view of the RS-25 hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi on February 8, 2023. Credit: NASA/ Stennis
4 RS-25 engines fire at the same time to produce a combined 1.6 million pounds of thrust at launch and 2 million pounds of thrust during ascent to assist power each SLS flight. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne customized 16 engines staying from the Space Shuttle Program, which were proven flightworthy at Stennis for Artemis objectives I through IV.
Every RS-25 engine that will help power SLS will be tested at NASA Stennis RS-25 tests at the site are conducted by a combined team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services operators. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis operations and facilities.
A remote cam provides a close-up view of the RS-25 hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi on February 8, 2023. Credit: NASA/ Stennis.
Through Artemis objectives, NASA will land the very first woman and the first person of color on the surface area of the Moon, paving the way for a long-lasting lunar presence and serving as a stepping stone en route to Mars.

During the most current test, engineers fired the RS-25 engine for a complete duration of about eight and a half minutes (500 seconds), the exact same amount of time the engines should operate to assist power SLS to space. The RS-25 engine also operated at 111% power for many of the test, the same level required to assist lift SLS to orbit. RS-25 tests at the site are conducted by a combined group of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services operators. Syncom Space Services is the prime specialist for Stennis facilities and operations.