NASA has hot-fired RS-25 engine No. 10001 for 500 seconds, matching the duration needed for SLS launches, and throttled it to 111% power to test new flight components and a thermal protection system for future Artemis missions.
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01Summary
- 01The test was conducted on Oct. 21, 2026, on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
- 02Engine No. 10001 was fired for 500 seconds, the same duration RS-25 engines burn during an SLS launch.
- 03Operators pushed the engine to 111% power level, the thrust needed for production engines launching SLS and Orion.
- 04Key aims were to acceptance-test RS-25 flight components for Artemis and validate a new thermal protection system for the nozzle.
- 05This developmental engine will not fly; the test provides data for NASA and contractor L3Harris to improve engine performance and reliability.
02Why it matters
This test helps validate hardware and systems that will launch the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft on future crewed Artemis missions to the Moon, ensuring engine reliability and performance under flight-like conditions.
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