Final RS-25 Engine Test of 2022 Aborts Early

The very first RS-25E engine was fired up on Wednesday at the Stennis Space Center for what was supposed to be a 500 second (around 8 minute) test firing. The engine successfully started, however around 4 minutes into the burn, the engine prematurely shutdown. It is unclear yet as to why the test concluded early, but it is likely an issue related to GSE, as has been tests in the past.

What's To Come in 2023 With RS-25 Testing

This test to end the year was meant to be the start of a monthly test campaign of the new and improved RS-25E engine. The RS-25E is a simplified version of the RS-25D engine, which is what flew on the Space Shuttle, and is supporting the first flights of SLS. However, after the supply of D engines are depleted, NASA will turn to the E engines, which are a slightly slimmed down version of the D engines and are referred to as the Minimal Change Expendable SSME, due to their lower cost to produce, but also due to their expendable nature. As mentioned, NASA hopes to fire an engine every month, to have an ammunition of engines ready to go when needed down the road, as well as supply engineers with valuable data.