Successful Engine Test at NASA Stennis Space Center
NASA’s Stennis Space Center located near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, conducted a significant test of the RS-25 engine No. 10001 on October 21, 2026. The engine underwent a hot fire test that lasted nearly eight and a half minutes, or 500 seconds, which replicates the duration for which RS-25 engines operate during the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. During this test, the engine operated at a power level of 111%.
Engine Performance and Development
For each Artemis mission, four RS-25 engines are utilized to generate a combined thrust of approximately 2 million pounds, essential for the SLS rocket’s launch. All RS-25 engines are rigorously tested for flight readiness at NASA Stennis before they are deployed. Although this particular developmental engine will not take part in actual flights, the results from the hot fire test are crucial. They allow NASA and its primary engine contractor, L3Harris Technologies, to gather important data that will enhance engine performance and reliability for future missions.
Source: NASA
