NASA has successfully tested an upgraded RS-25 engine that will be used in SLS rockets for flights to the Moon

Preparations for the moon landing are well underway. NASA recently tested an upgraded rocket engine.

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Starting with the Artemis V mission, the space agency will use Space Launch System (SLS) rockets with upgraded RS-25 engines. This will happen by the end of this decade, but delays cannot be ruled out.

The Static Fire Test successfully began a series of certification tests on the RS-25 engine. It took place last week at the Space Centre in Mississippi. The prototype operated for 9 minutes and 10 seconds.

The SLS will be equipped with four upgraded engines. The quartet of RS-25s will need to operate for 500 seconds (8 minutes 20 seconds) for the mission to be successful. Testing will continue next year. The propulsion system will undergo a total of 12 tests to receive certification.

NASA believed that using the engines from the Space Shuttle would save the budget. However, in reality, the cost of lunar rockets could exceed twice the established threshold.