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| RS-25 test April 6. NASA photo |
STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA conducted a second RS-25 single engine hot fire test April 6 as part of a new series to support the development and production of engines for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The full-duration hot fire of more than eight minutes was conducted on the A-1 Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center (SSC) in South Mississippi. It is part of a scheduled seven-test series designed to provide data for Aerojet Rocketdyne, lead contractor for the SLS engines, as it begins production of new RS-25 engines for use after the first four SLS flights. Four RS-25 engines help power SLS at launch, firing simultaneously to generate a combined 1.6 million pounds of thrust at launch and 2 million pounds of thrust during ascent. The RS-25 engines for the first four SLS flights are upgraded space shuttle main engines and have completed certification testing. During the new test series, operators will focus on evaluating new engine components and reducing risk in engine operation. (Source: NASA/SSC, 04/06/21)
