Thrust vector system upgrade done

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA’s Stennis Space Center (SSC) completed upgrades to a critical system needed to test RS-25 engines that will power the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon. Engineers and operators on the Fred Haise Test Stand at SSC recently completed testing of an upgraded thrust vector (TVC) system needed to gimbal RS-25 engines during testing. Gimbaling is the term for moving an engine a few degrees along a tight circular axis to direct the thrust and “steer” the SLS rocket on a proper trajectory during launch. Two hydraulic actuators are used to push and pull the engine several degrees and direct the thrust in a particular direction. The upgrades completed to the TVC system were performed to increase the speed of the actuators in returning an engine from a gimbaled angle back to the null position with the engine pointing directly down. SSC currently is preparing to conduct certification tests for production of new RS-25 engines for future Artemis missions. Stennis already has tested engines for the first four Artemis missions. Every RS-25 engine that will help power the SLS rocket at launch will be tested at SSC. (Source: NASA/SSC, 06/13/22)