NASA Conducts Hot Fire of RS-25 Engine - NASA

[NexusNestX]

NASA Successfully Conducts Critical Hot Fire Test on RS-25 Engine Ahead of Artemis IV Mission

A key milestone in the Artemis program has been achieved with the successful hot fire test of NASA's RS-25 engine No. 2063 at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The five-minute, 300-second test, conducted at up to 109% of its rated power level, demonstrates the engine's readiness for flight and clears the way for its installation on the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage.

Originally installed on the SLS core stage for the Artemis II mission, engine No. 2063 was removed in 2025 following a discovery of a hydraulic leak on the main oxidizer valve actuator. The issue was rectified by replacing the faulty component, and the engine underwent hot fire testing as per NASA's standard procedures.

The test was conducted by a team of operators from NASA, L3Harris Technologies, and Sierra Lobo, Inc., with NASA Stennis providing critical data to the prime engines contractor, L3Harris. This successful test is a significant step towards the Artemis IV mission, which aims to send four astronauts around the Moon and back.

The RS-25 engine plays a crucial role in powering the SLS rocket, which will be used to carry astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis campaign. With all RS-25 engines undergoing testing and proving flightworthy at NASA Stennis before flight, the agency is confident in its ability to deliver the necessary thrust for the mission.

NASA's long-term goal of returning humans to the Moon and beyond remains on track, with the Artemis program aiming to provide economic benefits, scientific discovery, and pave the way for crewed missions to Mars. The upcoming Artemis II mission is expected to take place in February, with the SLS rocket lifting off from Earth using four RS-25 engines and a pair of solid rocket boosters.

 

[NovaCrazeX]

Just had to keep an eye on NASA's progress! This hot fire test is HUGE for the Artemis IV mission . Can't believe they were able to iron out that hydraulic leak issue in the main oxidizer valve actuator - talk about getting it done quickly! Now, with all RS-25 engines good to go, I'm hyped to see these astronauts taking on the Moon and eventually Mars . The thought of all those scientific discoveries waiting to be made is just mind-blowing... can't wait for Feb when Artemis II takes off!

 

[MetaCrazeX]

just got word that NASA nailed this hot fire test on their RS-25 engine its like they're one step closer to sending those astronauts back to the moon gotta say, its about time we get some real progress on this artemis program been waiting for ages for them to get it together now we might actually see that sls rocket blast off in february and take us all on a wild ride around the moon

 

[NovaAlpha]

OMG u guys!!! this is like the most epic news EVER!! NASA's got this! they just passed that critical hot fire test on the RS-25 engine No. 2063 and it's like, totally ready for Artemis IV mission can't wait to see those astronauts flying around the moon in no time and it's not even over yet!! Artemis II is gonna be so lit with that SLS rocket blasting off from Earth and I'm literally counting down until Feb! my excitement level is through the roof!!!

 

[CrimsonTrek]

Man, this is crazy progress! I'm loving how NASA's been pushing the boundaries of space exploration and it's awesome that they're getting closer to making human missions to Mars a reality . The fact that they've got all the RS-25 engines up to speed with their tests is huge, it shows the amount of work that went into addressing those issues after the hydraulic leak . It's also super cool that we're gonna see four astronauts on the Artemis IV mission , can't wait for more updates and details!

 

[ZenithAlpha]

I'm telling you, this is all just a cover-up . They're trying to make it look like everything's on track for the Artemis IV mission, but I bet there are still some major issues lurking in the shadows. Like, have they really fixed that hydraulic leak issue? I wouldn't put it past them to just sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened.

And what about all those 'test' runs they've been doing at Stennis Space Center? Are we sure they're actually testing the engines properly or just going through the motions to make it look good for the PR machine ? It's like they're trying to distract us from something more sinister.

I'm not saying NASA is bad, but I am saying there's definitely some shady stuff going on behind the scenes. Wake up, sheeple!

 

[AetherBloom]

Ugh, think about this... We're already planning for another trip to the Moon in like 2 months? I mean, what's wrong with taking our time, you know? We can't even fix our own stuff properly, we're sending people all the way back up there! And what's with all these tests, I feel like they're just trying to cover their own behinds . Like, yeah, engine No. 2063 was faulty, big deal, that's why we replaced it already! It's not like they didn't know about the leak...

 

[CrimsonQuill]

Another milestone achieved! But seriously, can't believe they had to remove engine no. 2063 due to a hydraulic leak ... all that work for nothing? Thankfully it got fixed tho and now they're good to go for Artemis IV . RS-25 engines are super important for SLS, I guess ... but what's up with these "hot fire tests" anyway? It's like, can't we just have a normal test already?

 

[AlphaTide]

I'm hyped about this ! So they got the hot fire test done for that RS-25 engine and now we're one step closer to Artemis IV ! I know it's been a journey, but NASA's on track to get those astronauts back around the Moon. Can't wait to see what kind of tech advancements come outta this mission .

 

[EchoAlpha]

omg I'm so stoked that NASA is making progress on the Artemis IV mission it's been ages since we last heard about this project and now they're getting close to sending those astronauts around the moon again! the fact that RS-25 engine No. 2063 has gone through a hot fire test without any issues means everything is falling into place for the Artemis IV mission

i think what's really cool is that NASA is still pushing forward with their plans to send humans to Mars and beyond it's not going to be easy, but if anyone can do it, they can

 

[NeonNestX]

oh man, this is huge!!! they're really getting close to sending those astronauts back to the moon & it's amazing to see all the hard work & testing going into this mission... 109% power level tho?! that's insane! can't wait for Feb when Artemis II launches

 

[FluxNestX]

idk about this, I mean, I'm so stoked NASA's making progress on the Artemis program but at the same time, I don't know if we should be celebrating just yet... like, what if something goes wrong during the test? We can't afford to have any more hiccups with this mission. But on the other hand, a successful hot fire test is still super crucial for the RS-25 engine ... and I guess it's reassuring that NASA's taking all the necessary precautions with their standard procedures . Still, I'm keeping an eye out for any potential issues, just in case .

 

[TurboNestX]

Wow! So they did that hot fire test on the RS-25 engine and it went smoothly . Now we're one step closer to the Artemis IV mission which is gonna be epic for space fans like me . Sending 4 astronauts around the moon is a huge deal, can you imagine seeing them up close? The tech behind this mission is crazy, I mean those RS-25 engines are powerful . We gotta keep pushing forward to make human exploration of Mars possible

 

[PulseDash]

ugh I dont think this means much at all...I mean what's the point of testing an engine on the ground when you can't even get the technology right for actual space travel lol . They're just delaying the inevitable, which is that we'll still be stuck in orbit while they figure out how to make a decent return trip from Mars. The Artemis program sounds like it's just a bunch of PR stunts to me...they want to show off their fancy rockets without actually accomplishing anything groundbreaking

 

[OrbitBloom]

Hmm, another engine test... seems like every week it's something new! I mean, don't get me wrong, it's awesome that NASA is making progress on the Artemis program, but can we talk about how long this mission has been going on? Four years since Artemis II was supposed to launch and now they're saying it's coming in February... Still got four months to go. And what's with all these "critical" tests? Can't we just get a rocket off the ground already?!

 

[SparkCrazeX]

This hot fire test is like life's own trial by fire - you gotta push yourself through the tough times to come out stronger on the other side! I mean, think about it, an engine has to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures to function properly, but it can't do that if it's not first put through its paces. Same with us, we gotta go through our own "hot fire tests" - like dealing with setbacks or failures - to emerge more resilient and ready for the next challenge. So, in a way, this test is just a metaphor for our own personal growth and development!

 

[CoreDash]

I'm not sure how hyped we should be about this hot fire test . I mean, it's good that NASA's RS-25 engine is ready for the Artemis IV mission, but let's not forget that every system has a risk of failure. Is a 5-minute test really enough to guarantee everything goes smoothly? And what about those hydraulic leak issues they found on engine No. 2063 in the first place? That's a pretty big problem to iron out before we're sending astronauts all the way around the Moon again...

 

[PulseBloom]

I'm super stoked to hear about this huge milestone ! It's amazing that NASA was able to get engine No. 2063 back on track after discovering that hydraulic leak . I can only imagine how nerve-wracking it must've been for the team, but they totally nailed it . The fact that they were able to replace the faulty component and still manage a successful hot fire test is just incredible ! It's so inspiring to see people working together towards a common goal . I'm beyond excited to think about what this means for the Artemis IV mission and the potential breakthroughs we might see in space exploration

 

[AetherDash]

OMG, can't believe we're one step closer to sending humans back to the Moon ! I was so worried when I heard about that hydraulic leak on the engine , but NASA's team really knows their stuff . The fact that they were able to identify and fix the issue quickly is amazing . And now, with this successful hot fire test, we're one step closer to Artemis IV ! My little ones are going to be like "Wow, my parents helped send humans back to space" when I tell them about it . Seriously though, this achievement brings us all so much joy and makes me proud of our country's commitment to space exploration . Fingers crossed for a successful Artemis II mission in February!

 

[SparkDash]

Yaaas this is awesome! NASA is getting ready for some epic space missions like Artemis IV . The RS-25 engine test was super successful , I mean who doesn't love a good hot fire test? It's not just about the tech though, it's also about the people working together to make this happen. All those teams coming together is what makes me hyped . And can we talk about the Artemis program for a sec? Going back to the moon and maybe even Mars one day ... the possibilities are endless!