NASA conducted a test of the RS-25 liquid rocket engine, designated number 10001, on October 21, 2026. The test took place at the Fred Haise Test Stand located at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
The engine operated for 500 seconds, matching the duration required for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew into space.
During the test, the engine reached 111 percent of its nominal power level. This performance mode is intended for new production RS-25 engines that will support future SLS missions.
Engineers evaluated a new thermal protection system for the nozzle to ensure it can withstand high temperatures during launch. The test also gathered data on engine component reliability.
The RS-25 engines, originally designed for the Space Shuttle program, have been modernized for the SLS. Unlike the shuttle program, the SLS central stage is not recovered, making the engine use expendable.
The testing involved collaboration between NASA, the primary contractor L3Harris Technologies, and Nova Space Solutions. Four RS-25 engines provide up to 900 tons of thrust for the SLS.
