Stennis Space Center Records Notable ‘First’ During Busy 2018

As NASA celebrated six decades of accomplishments during the anniversary celebration of its establishment this year, Stennis Space Center squarely focused on adding to its own lengthy achievement list.

Consider the number of “firsts” – as well as one very large milestone test complex achievement – recorded at the rocket engine test site during the past calendar year:

• First-ever test of an RS-25 engine at 113 percent of its original thrust level, the highest power level ever achieved. Stennis is testing RS-25 engines on the A-1 Test Stand to help power NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The record thrust level was achieved during a Feb. 21 hot fire, assuring operators that the engine is capable of providing the power needed for SLS, in development as the largest rocket in history

NASA delivered a treat with a full-duration RS-25 rocket engine test Oct. 31. A team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services operators conducted the 500-second RS-25 test on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center.

• First-ever Commercial Space Launch Act agreement signed by Stennis. The agreement grants Relativity Space exclusive use of the E-4 Test Complex at Stennis. Relativity is an innovative company focusing on a new approach to developing small launch vehicles. Stennis Director Rick Gilbrech explained that the new Space Launch Act agreement opens “yet another avenue for commercial customers to perform cost-efficient engine testing at Stennis.”