Milestone Test Firing of NASA’s SLS Monster Rocket Engine Advances Human Path to Deep Space

Universe Today ^ | Ken Kremer

[BenLurkin]

(Aug. 13) successful test firing of an RS-25 main stage engine for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) monster rocket currently under development, the program passed a key milestone advancing the agency on the path to propel astronauts back to deep space at the turn of the decade.

The 535 second long test firing of the RS-25 development engine was conducted on the A-1 test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi – and ran for the planned full duration of nearly 9 minutes, matching the time they will fire during an actual SLS launch.

All indications are that the hot fire test apparently went off without a hitch, on first look.

“We ran the full duration and met all test objectives,” said Steve Wofford, SLS engine manager, on NASA TV following today’s’ test firing.

“There were no anomalies.” – based on the initial look.

The RS-25 is actually an upgraded version of former space shuttle main engines that were used with a 100% success rate during NASA’s three decade-long Space Shuttle program to propel the now retired shuttle orbiters to low Earth orbit. Those same engines are now being modified for use by the SLS.

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The core stage (first stage) of the SLS will be powered by four RS-25 engines and a pair of the five-segment solid rocket boosters that will generate a combined 8.4 million pounds of liftoff thrust, making it the most powerful rocket the world has ever seen.

[GingisK]

Yes! I tried to add some scale in mine, but it really doesn't work:

The engine by itself is really large:

[NCC-1701]

Out of the 65 F-1’s that flew, not one of them had any problems. They all burned as expected. Out of the 65 J-2’s that flew, three of them (2 on Apollo 6 and one on Apollo 13) cut out early. They had a slight affect on the expected orbits. They proved to be some of the most reliable poweplants designed, built, and flown. I love watching the tests on Youtube. Raw power on display. And they sounded great.

[jpsb]

Thanks for the lesson, I’ve seen impulse in stats on rocket engines but never brother to look it up. I thought thrust, thrust, thrust. Rocket science is not my thing. thx again.

[HeadOn]

Huntsville!

[GingisK]

While they have that hardware in Huntsville, those pictures were taken at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Saturn V display in Huntsville is laying horizontally on the ground. You can get a better feeling of its monstrosity.

The F-1 engine is really big and boasts mind-boggling statistics.

I love that stuff!