Teams at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi tested RS-25 engine No. 10001 on Oct. 21, 2026. The hot fire test lasted for almost eight-and-a-half minutes (500 seconds), the same amount of time RS-25 engines fire during launch of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, with a 111% power level. For each Artemis mission, four RS-25 engines produce up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust to help launch the SLS rocket.
Prior to use, all RS-25 engines are proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis. While this developmental engine will not be used in flight, the hot fire test provides NASA and NASA’s prime engine contractor L3Harris Technologies with the capability to capture critical data to improve engine performance and reliability.
Image credit: NASA/Danny Nowlin
APOD: 2026 October 27 – Noctilucent Clouds over Sweden
October 27, 2026
A-81 Reaches South Georgia
October 27, 2026
NASA’s Perseverance Views Dust at Neretva Vallis
October 26, 2026
NASA’s Perseverance Offers Clues to Protect Crews From Mars Dust
October 26, 2026
NEO Surveyor’s Sunshade Gets Inspected
October 26, 2026
Solar Cells Inspected on NASA’s NEO Surveyor
October 26, 2026
Abu Dhabi reveals design for youth concert hall by the late Frank Gehry
October 27, 2026
Punjab Government's Top Official Fined Rs 1 Lakh Over Dearness Allowance Dues
October 27, 2026
Ghee, Milk To Cost More Ahead Of Diwali In Tamil Nadu As Aavin Raises Prices
October 27, 2026