NASA conducts RS-25 engine hot shot test for Artemis SLS moon rocket

NASA conducted the first hot fire on January 28, 2021, in a new series of tests for the production of RS-25 engines that will help power the agency’s space launch system (SLS) rocket during future deep space missions.

Testing RS-25 Development Engine # 0528 on Test Stand A-1 at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Missouri, marks the start of a series of seven tests designed to provide valuable data to Aerojet Rocketdyne, prime contractor for SLS engines, as the company begins production of new RS-25 engines.

Four RS-25 engines help power the SLS at launch, pulling simultaneously to generate a combined thrust of 1.6 million pounds at launch and 2 million pounds of thrust during climb. The RS-25 engines from the first four SLS flights are upgraded main space shuttle engines and have completed certification testing. NASA is now focusing on providing data to improve the production of new RS-25 engines and components for use in subsequent SLS missions.

The new series of tests will assess the performance of engine components manufactured with advanced technologies and manufacturing techniques. The testing is part of NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne’s efforts to use advanced manufacturing methods to dramatically reduce the cost and time required to build new RS-25 engines.

For the Jan. 28 test, the RS-25 development engine was fired for a total of approximately eight and a half minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time the engines must fire to help send the SLS in orbit. The engine was fired at 111% of the original design power of the Space Shuttle’s main engine and at the same level of power needed to help launch SLS on its missions.

The hot fire marks the first test at the historic stand since April 2019, when NASA concluded testing of the RS-25 engines for the first four SLS missions. Since then, Stennis teams have worked to complete major maintenance and upgrade projects for the A-1 test bench and its systems to ensure future testing capabilities.

Among other projects, work included installing a new NASA-designed and manufactured thrust vector control system on the test bench that allows operators to gimbal-test RS-25 engines, by moving on a tight circular axis as it should. in flight to ensure a correct trajectory.

NASA is building SLS as the most powerful rocket in the world. The initial SLS missions will travel to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program, including the Artemis I unmanned test flight this year which will pave the way for future flights with astronauts to explore the lunar surface and be prepare for missions for March.

RS-25 tests at Stennis are being conducted by a combined team of operators NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis’ facilities and operations.