Oddbean

RS-25 engines certified for future Artemis missions after long testing program ========== L3Harris Technologies and Aerojet Rocketdyne have concluded a comprehensive series of development and certification tests for the RS-25 engine, confirming its readiness for upcoming Artemis missions, starting with Artemis V. The RS-25 engines, crucial for the propulsion of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), have undergone significant upgrades to meet the needs of future Artemis missions. The modernized RS-25 engines will operate at 111% of their rated thrust level, an increase from the 104.5% during the shuttle era and 109% for the initial Artemis missions. Significant improvements include the adoption of 3D printing techniques, specifically in the production of the Pogo Accumulator Assembly. Another major advancement is in the Main Combustion Chambers (MCC), where Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) has been employed. The engine's controller has also been upgraded, featuring 20 times the processing capability of its predecessors. The nozzle of the RS-25 has been redesigned for better manufacturability. The RS-25 test program accumulated about 34,000 seconds of hot fire testing across the development, retrofit, and certification phases. #Rs25Engines #ArtemisMissions #Nasa #SpaceLaunchSystem(sls) https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/RS_25_engines_certified_for_future_Artemis_missions_after_long_testing_program_999.html