Third test of RS-25 conducted

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – An RS-25 engine fired up for 500 seconds Thursday in the third test of the engines that will power the Space Launch System. The developmental engine was tested on the A-1 test stand. Four more tests are planned for the current developmental engine. A cluster of four RS-25 engines will power SLS at speeds of 17,500 mph, 73 times faster than the top speeds of an Indianapolis 500 race car, to send astronauts on future missions beyond Earth's orbit, including to an asteroid and ultimately to Mars. (Source: NASA, 06/11/15) Previous