The J2-X rocket engine, second stage of NASA's future Space Launch System, fires during a ground test. Image Credit/NASA photo.
NASA’s muscular J-2X rocket roared to life for a 500 second, full duration ground test firing on Wednesday at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Derived from NASA’s legendary Saturn V Apollo-era moon rocket, the J-2X is envisioned as the upper stage for NASA’s future Space Launch System.
When paired with the Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle, the SLS will launch crews of four astronauts on missions to a range of deep space destinations, beginning with near Earth asteroids and eventually to Mars.
“The J-2X engine is critical to the development of the Space Launch System,” Dan Dumbacher, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, said after the test. “Today’s test means NASA is moving closer to developing the rocket it needs if humans are to explore beyond low-Earth orbit.”
President Obama has tasked NASA with reaching an asteroid with human explorers by 2025. Missions to the Martian environs and eventually Mars would follow a decade or so later.
The new propulsion stage is under development by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Wednesday’s test was eighth in a series of ground firing.
The SLS J2X stage will serve two propulsion functions, first generating 294,000 pounds of thrust during the initial climb to orbit. Subsequent firings would propel the Orion/MPCV out of Earth orbit on a trajectory toward its ultimate destination.