NASA Tests RS-25 Engine No. 10001 for Future Artemis Missions

According to NASA News Releases, RS-25 engine No. 10001 underwent testing on October 21 at the Fred Haise Test Stand, which is located at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The test involved firing the developmental engine for nearly eight-and-a-half minutes, totaling 500 seconds, which mirrors the duration that RS-25 engines operate during the launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

During the evaluation, the engine was operated at 111% of its power level, aligning with the thrust required for new production engines intended for the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft to achieve orbit. The primary goals of this test were to conduct an acceptance test on RS-25 flight components designated for future Artemis missions and to validate the new thermal protection system, which is designed to shield the RS-25 engine nozzle from the thermal conditions surrounding the SLS during launch.

Although this specific developmental engine will not be utilized in flight, the hot fire test allows NASA and its prime contractor, L3Harris Technologies, to gather essential data to enhance engine reliability and performance. For each Artemis mission, four RS-25 engines can generate a combined thrust of up to 2 million pounds. NASA Stennis is the location where all RS-25 engines are tested and confirmed as flightworthy before deployment. The testing procedures are managed by a group of operators comprising personnel from NASA, L3Harris, and Nova Space Solutions.