NASA continues Artemis moon rocket engine tests with first hot fire of 2024

NASA continued a important check collection for future flights of NASA’s SLS (House Launch System) rocket in help of the Artemis marketing campaign on Jan. 17 with a full-duration scorching hearth of the RS-25 engine on the Fred Haise Check Stand at NASA’s Stennis House Heart close to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Information collected from the check collection might be used to certify manufacturing of latest RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Applied sciences firm, to assist energy the SLS rocket on future Artemis missions to the moon and past, starting with Artemis V.

Groups are evaluating the efficiency of a number of new engine elements, together with a nozzle, hydraulic actuators, flex ducts, and turbopumps. The present collection is the second and last collection to certify manufacturing of the upgraded engines. NASA accomplished an preliminary 12-test certification collection with the upgraded elements in June 2023.

Throughout the Jan. 17 check, operators adopted a “check such as you fly” strategy, firing the engine for a similar period of time—virtually eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds)—wanted to launch SLS and at energy ranges ranging between 80% to 113%.

The Jan. 17 check comes three months after the present collection started in October. Throughout three checks final fall, operators fired the engine for durations from 500 to 650 seconds. The longest deliberate check of the collection occurred on Nov. 29 when crews gimbaled, or steered, the engine throughout an virtually 11-minute (650 seconds) scorching hearth. The gimbaling method is used to manage and stabilize SLS because it reaches orbit.

Every SLS flight is powered by 4 RS-25 engines, firing concurrently throughout launch and ascent to generate over 2 million kilos of thrust.

The primary 4 Artemis missions with SLS are utilizing modified space shuttle predominant engines that may energy as much as 109% of their rated stage. The newly produced RS-25 engines will energy as much as the 111% stage to offer further thrust. Testing to the 113% energy stage supplies an added margin of operational security.

With the completion of the check marketing campaign in 2024, all programs are anticipated to be “go” for manufacturing of 24 new RS-25 engines for missions starting with Artemis V.

By way of Artemis, NASA will set up a long-term presence on the moon for scientific exploration with business and worldwide companions, discover ways to dwell and work away from residence, and put together for future human exploration of Mars.