Rocket engine test at Stennis ends early, but NASA gains valuable data

NASA ended a rocket engine test earlier than planned at Stennis Space Center on Thursday, but officials say valuable data was gathered.

The test started at 5:57 p.m., but a minor issue with the test stand triggered an early shutdown at 193 seconds.

A team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services engineers and operators tested RS-25 engine, which is an upgraded versions of the main engines used to power 135 space shuttle missions from 1981 to 2011.

The engine will be used in NASA’s new Space Launch System, which will operate at unprecedented levels. Four RS-25 engines will fire simultaneously to provide 2 million pounds of thrust and operate in conjunction with a pair of solid rocket boosters to power the SLS at launch. The engines also must withstand colder liquid oxygen and engine compartment temperatures, higher propellant pressure and greater exhaust nozzle heating.

“The RS-25 is a proven engine, but the SLS will demand it to operate at higher levels than ever before,” Stennis Space Center Director Rick Gilbrech said. “Despite the early shutdown in this instance, the testing we’re doing is proving its capabilities and allowing us to move forward with confidence. Every test is a step closer to powering missions deeper into space than we’ve ever flown. It’s exciting to be a part of that progress.”

NASA engineers conducted a seven-test developmental series of the new performance levels on another RS-25 engine last year, also on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis. Earlier this year, engineers installed and tested another RS-25 engine, which will help power the SLS on Exploration Mission-2, the first crewed flight on the new spacecraft. Additional flight engines also will be tested at Stennis.

“This is important,” A-1 Test Director Jeff Henderson explained. “We have to know all of these details in order to fly safely. The engine and test stand teams have focused on including as many objectives as possible into the test plan. We want to collect as much data as we can so we know as much as we can about how this engine will perform.”

The next test is planned for August.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Rocket engine test at Stennis ends early, but NASA gains valuable data."