Stennis Space Center conducts RS-25 engine test

On March 22, NASA conducted a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights.

The hot-fire test was conducted on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center.

This is the 10th hot-fire test in a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines.

The NASA Stennis Test Team fired the certification engine for 500 seconds, the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Operators also powered the engine to a level of 113% – beyond the 111% power level new RS-25 engines use to provide additional thrust.

Testing to 113% provides a margin of operational safety.