NASA tests RS-25 engine in support of future Artemis missions

NASA said it tested RS-25 engine No. 10001 on Oct. 21 at the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Test teams fired the developmental engine for almost eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds). NASA said this was the same amount of time RS-25 engines fire during launch of NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) rocket.

During the test, operators also fired the engine up to the 111% power level. NASA said this matched the thrust needed for new production engines to launch the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft to orbit.

The agency said the main objectives were to acceptance test RS-25 flight components for future Artemis missions and validate the new thermal protection system. The system protects the RS-25 engine nozzle from the thermal environment surrounding SLS during launch.

NASA said the developmental engine will not be used in flight. The hot fire test gave NASA and prime contractor L3Harris Technologies the capability to capture critical data to improve engine performance and reliability.

Four RS-25 engines produce up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust to help launch the SLS rocket for each Artemis mission. NASA said all RS-25 engines are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use. Tests are conducted by a team of operators from NASA, L3Harris, and Nova Space Solutions.