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NASA fires an RS-25 rocket engine for 500 seconds to test parts for future Artemis Moon launches
In brief
NASA test-fired RS-25 engine No. 10001 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi on October 21, 2026. The engine ran for almost eight and a half minutes (500 seconds), the same time RS-25 engines burn during a launch of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
What NASA was testing
NASA says the main goals were to acceptance-test RS-25 flight components for future Artemis missions and to check a new thermal protection system that shields the engine nozzle from the intense heat around the rocket during launch. Operators also pushed the engine to 111% power, the thrust level new production engines need to send SLS and the Orion spacecraft to orbit.
Will this engine fly?
No. Engine No. 10001 is a developmental engine, so it is used to gather data rather than to launch. NASA and its prime contractor L3Harris Technologies use these tests to improve engine performance and reliability. Every RS-25 is tested and proven at Stennis before flight, and four of them together produce up to 2 million pounds of thrust for each SLS launch. For more Moon news, read our update on NASA's Moon base rovers.
VSH take: 500 seconds sounds short, but it is the entire trip from the launch pad to space, which is why NASA runs the full burn on the ground first. Space fans can watch the ISS pass overhead with our ISS tracker and explore live views of the planet on Live Earth from space.
This is our own summary of a NASA release. ViralScopeHub is not affiliated with NASA.
Why it matters
Every Artemis Moon launch depends on RS-25 engines, and ground tests like this one prove new parts and heat protection before astronauts ride on them.
People also ask
How long did NASA's RS-25 test last?
About 500 seconds, almost eight and a half minutes, the same as an SLS launch burn.
Where was the test?
On the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
How many RS-25 engines does the SLS rocket use?
Four, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.
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Sources
Every ViralScopeHub news item is an original summary written in our own words. We link to the original reporting so you can read the full story from the publisher.
