NASA Conducts Hot Fire Test of Artemis Moon Rocket Engine

NASA conducted the 10th certification test of an RS-25 engine June 8, continuing a critical hot fire series to facilitate production of new engines for future SLS (Space Launch System) missions to deep space. Operators on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, fired the RS-25 certification engine for more than 8 minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time the engines must fire to help launch NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon in preparation for future journeys to Mars. The engine also fired as high as 113% power during the test, exceeding the 111% power level needed during launch and providing a margin of operational performance safety. NASA plans two additional tests to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.