Engine Test Marks Major Milestone on NASA’s journey to Mars

The hot fire marked the first test of an RS-25 flight engine for NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS), being built to carry humans on future deep-space missions, including an asteroid and Mars. 4 RS-25 engines will power the SLS core stage.

The engines used on initial SLS missions are flight engines remaining from the Space Shuttle Program, workhorse engines that are among the most proven in the world, having powered 135 space shuttle missions from 1981 to 2011. For the SLS vehicle, the engines will fire at 109% thrust level and provide a combined 2 million pounds of thrust.

NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the prime contractor for RS-25 engine work, conducted a series of developmental tests on the RS-25 engine last year at Stennis, primarily to validate the capabilities of a new controller – or, “brain” – for the engine and to verify the different operating conditions needed for the SLS vehicle. Following today’s firing, Stennis and Aerojet Rocketdyne will conduct a development engine series to test new flight engine controllers and will continue to test RS-25 flight engines.

The agency is also preparing the B-2 Test Stand at Stennis to test the SLS core stage that will be used on the rocket’s first flight, Exploration Mission-1. Testing will involve installing the flight core stage on the B-2 stand and firing its four RS-25 rocket engines simultaneously. “One more powerful step forward accomplished on the SLS journey,” said Ronnie Rigney, RS-25 project manager at Stennis. “It really feels great to be part of such an important program in our nation.” https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/engine-test-marks-major-milestone-on-nasa-s-journey-to-mars