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Engines are installed on the world's largest rocket.
As part of the Artemis program, NASA continues to prepare for the launch of the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to return people to the moon. This mission, scheduled for next year, will be the first since the Apollo program, in which astronauts will go to the moon. The astronauts do not plan to land on the lunar surface, but will perform a flyby to test the Orion spacecraft and test its ability to support manned flight.
The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will be used for the launch is currently the largest operational rocket in the world. Most recently, the space agency completed the installation of four main engines on the rocket's center stage.
RS-25 Engines: Reliable and time-tested
The RS-25 engines used for the central stage of the SLS rocket are among the oldest models and were developed as an upgrade to the upper stage engines of the Saturn V rocket. The first RS-25 engines were used on the space shuttle Columbia in 1981. After the shuttles were decommissioned in 2011, the engines were sent to storage. For the Artemis 2 mission, two such engines that have passed many flights will be used again, and the remaining two will be new, but they use equipment from previous flights.
Modernization and testing
Due to the age of the existing RS-25 engines, NASA has worked with Aerojet Rocketdyne, the main engine contractor for the SLS program, to modernize the design and manufacturing processes of the RS-25E engines. Since December last year, several tests of the new engines have been carried out, including gimbal systems and nozzles.
Finishing touches
The engines were fixed to the rocket at NASA's New Orleans assembly plant, and engineers are currently working to connect their electrical and traction systems to the SLS center stage. In addition to the four engines installed, the rocket also uses two solid-fuel boosters to generate more than eight million pounds of thrust.
NASA has also prepared a launch tower for the Artemis 2 mission, and work is currently underway on the Orion spacecraft.
With each step, NASA is moving closer to launching Artemis 2, continuing humanity's efforts to explore the moon. This mission promises to be an important step towards further exploration of outer space.
As part of the Artemis program, NASA continues to prepare for the launch of the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to return people to the moon. This mission, scheduled for next year, will be the first since the Apollo program, in which astronauts will go to the moon. The astronauts do not plan to land on the lunar surface, but will perform a flyby to test the Orion spacecraft and test its ability to support manned flight.
The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will be used for the launch is currently the largest operational rocket in the world. Most recently, the space agency completed the installation of four main engines on the rocket's center stage.
RS-25 Engines: Reliable and time-tested
The RS-25 engines used for the central stage of the SLS rocket are among the oldest models and were developed as an upgrade to the upper stage engines of the Saturn V rocket. The first RS-25 engines were used on the space shuttle Columbia in 1981. After the shuttles were decommissioned in 2011, the engines were sent to storage. For the Artemis 2 mission, two such engines that have passed many flights will be used again, and the remaining two will be new, but they use equipment from previous flights.
Modernization and testing
Due to the age of the existing RS-25 engines, NASA has worked with Aerojet Rocketdyne, the main engine contractor for the SLS program, to modernize the design and manufacturing processes of the RS-25E engines. Since December last year, several tests of the new engines have been carried out, including gimbal systems and nozzles.
Finishing touches
The engines were fixed to the rocket at NASA's New Orleans assembly plant, and engineers are currently working to connect their electrical and traction systems to the SLS center stage. In addition to the four engines installed, the rocket also uses two solid-fuel boosters to generate more than eight million pounds of thrust.
NASA has also prepared a launch tower for the Artemis 2 mission, and work is currently underway on the Orion spacecraft.
With each step, NASA is moving closer to launching Artemis 2, continuing humanity's efforts to explore the moon. This mission promises to be an important step towards further exploration of outer space.
