NASA astronauts Eric Boe, from left, and Barry "Butch" Wilmore listen as an Aerojet Rocketdyne engineer discusses aspects of an RL10 engine during a tour of Aerojet Rocketdyne's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA Commercial Crew astronaut Eric Boe listens as Jim Moss, site director for Aerojet Rocketdyne's West Palm Beach facility, discusses aspects of the RL10 engine as it stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

Carlos Rodriguez, from left, manager of systems development, verification and testing for Aerojet Rocketdyne, talks with NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore, Eric Boe and Suni Williams as the group surveys an RL10 engine as it stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

Carlos Rodriguez, from left, manager of systems development, verification and testing for Aerojet Rocketdyne, talks with NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore, Eric Boe and Suni Williams as the group surveys an RL10 engine as it stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronauts Eric Boe, from left, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams listen as United Launch Alliance engineer Tom Harper discusses aspects of an RL10 engine during a tour of Aerojet Rocketdyne's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore, from left, Eric Boe and Suni Williams watch as Aerojet Rocketdyne test team engineers direct the test-firing of an RL10 engine at the company's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams watches as Aerojet Rocketdyne test team engineers direct the test-firing of an RL10 engine at the company's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronaut Eric Boe watches as Aerojet Rocketdyne test team engineers direct the test-firing of an RL10 engine at the company's facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams, from left, Eric Boe and Barry "Butch" Wilmore survey an RL10 engine as it stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore, from left, Eric Boe and Suni Williams survey an RL10 engine as it stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

An RL10 engine stands in a vacuum chamber at Aerojet Rocketdyne's test stand in West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine will be one of two used for the Centaur upper stage during a United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission to launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner on a flight test carrying a crew. The engine was test-fired as part of acceptance testing to confirm the engine is ready for flight.

A launch abort engine built by Aerojet Rocketdyne is hot-fired during tests in the Mojave Desert in California. The engine produces up to 40,000 pounds of thrust and burns hypergolic propellants. The engines have been designed and built for use on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in sets of four. In an emergency at the pad or during ascent, the engines would ignite to push the Starliner and its crew out of danger.

A launch abort engine built by Aerojet Rocketdyne is hot-fired during tests in the Mojave Desert in California. The engine produces up to 40,000 pounds of thrust and burns hypergolic propellants. The engines have been designed and built for use on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in sets of four. In an emergency at the pad or during ascent, the engines would ignite to push the Starliner and its crew out of danger.

Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne have begun a series of developmental hot-fire tests with two launch abort engines similar to the ones that will be part of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner service module, in the Mojave Desert in California. The engines, designed to maximize thrust build-up, while minimizing overshoot during start up, will be fired between half a second and 3 seconds each during the test campaign. If the Starliner’s four launch abort engines were used during an abort scenario, they would fire between 3 and 5.5. seconds, with enough thrust to get the spacecraft and its crew away from the rocket, before splashing down in the ocean under parachutes.

Orion leadership congratulates the Aerojet Rocketdyne team on their efforts in making Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) a success on March 10, 2015. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership congratulates the Aerojet Rocketdyne team on their efforts in making Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) a success on March 10, 2015. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership congratulates the Aerojet Rocketdyne team on their efforts in making Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) a success on March 10, 2015. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership congratulates the Aerojet Rocketdyne team on their efforts in making Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) a success on March 10, 2015. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

NASA and Aerojet

Orion leadership visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Award presented to Kristin Conner. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Award presented to Sam Wiley. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership (including Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer) visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion leadership visits Aerojet Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA on March 3, 2015 to recognize the great work performed in support of Orion's first flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

A team of engineers from NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, Orbital Sciences Corporation and Aerojet conduct a successful test of an Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine on March 19. Stennis is testing AJ26 engines for Orbital Sciences to power commercial cargo missions to the International Space Station. Orbital has partnered with NASA through the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services initiative to carry out eight cargo missions to the space station by 2015, using Taurus II rockets.

Representatives from NASA, Orbital Sciences Corp. and Aerojet participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for construction of a flame deflector trench at Stennis Space Center's E Test Complex. Participants included Orbital CEO J.R. Thompson (center, left) and Stennis Space Center Director Gene Goldman (center, right).

John C. Stennis Space Center engineers conduct a 55-second test fire of Aerojet's liquid-fuel AJ26 rocket engine that will power the first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II space launch vehicle. The Dec. 17, 2010 test was conducted on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis in support of NASA's Commercial Transportation Services partnerships to enable commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station. Orbital is under contract with NASA to provide eight cargo missions to the space station through 2015.

John C. Stennis Space Center engineers conduct a 55-second test fire of Aerojet's liquid-fuel AJ26 rocket engine that will power the first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II space launch vehicle. The Dec. 17, 2010 test was conducted on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis in support of NASA's Commercial Transportation Services partnerships to enable commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station. Orbital is under contract with NASA to provide eight cargo missions to the space station through 2015.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (l) and John C. Stennis Space Center Director Patrick Scheuermann watch the successful test of the first Aerojet AJ26 flight engine Feb. 7, 2011. The test was conducted on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis. The engine now will be sent to Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, where it will be used to power the first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II space vehicle. The Feb. 7 test supports NASA's commitment to partner with companies to provide commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station. NASA has partnered with Orbital to carry out the first of eight cargo missions to the space station in early 2012.

A group of Take Our Children Day participants watch a cryogenic demonstration led by Allen Forsman of Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, on June 27 at the Aerojet Rocketdyne Engine Assembly Facility at NASA Stennis.

AEROJET 16 FLAMETUBE EXPERIMENT

AEROJET 16 FLAMETUBE EXPERIMENT

L-R: William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for human exploration and operations; Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, ATK Space Launch Division; John Elbon, Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Space Exploration; Julie Van Kleek, Vice President, space programs, Aerojet Rocketdyne; and Jim Crocker, Vice President and General Manager, civil space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, participate in a panel discussion on deep space exploration using the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft at the Newseum in Washington on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

L-R: William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for human exploration and operations; Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, ATK Space Launch Division; John Elbon, Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Space Exploration; Julie Van Kleek, Vice President, space programs, Aerojet Rocketdyne; and Jim Crocker, Vice President and General Manager, civil space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, participate in a panel discussion on deep space exploration using the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft at the Newseum in Washington on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

L-R: William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for human exploration and operations; Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, ATK Space Launch Division; John Elbon, Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Space Exploration; Julie Van Kleek, Vice President, space programs, Aerojet Rocketdyne; and Jim Crocker, Vice President and General Manager, civil space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, participate in a panel discussion on deep space exploration using the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft at the Newseum in Washington on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

This photo shows the second RS-25 engine attached to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for the agency’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans structurally mated the second of four engines to the stage on Oct. 30 and are currently integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure to complete the installation. Integration of the RS-25 engines to the recently completed core stage structure is a collaborative, multistep process for NASA and its partners Boeing, the core stage lead contractor, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the RS-25 engines lead contractor. The four RS-25 engines for Artemis I are modified heritage flight hardware from the Space Shuttle Program, ensuring high performance and reliability to power NASA’s next generation lunar missions. Each engine also has a special identification number, and NASA keeps a history of which engines are used on each mission. The second engine, Engine 2045, has flown on several shuttle missions, including the mission that returned NASA astronaut John Glenn to space in 1998 as well as the first and only shuttle launch to occur on Independence Day in 2006. Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit and Orion, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

This photo shows the second RS-25 engine attached to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for the agency’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans structurally mated the second of four engines to the stage on Oct. 30 and are currently integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure to complete the installation. Integration of the RS-25 engines to the recently completed core stage structure is a collaborative, multistep process for NASA and its partners Boeing, the core stage lead contractor, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the RS-25 engines lead contractor. The four RS-25 engines for Artemis I are modified heritage flight hardware from the Space Shuttle Program, ensuring high performance and reliability to power NASA’s next generation lunar missions. Each engine also has a special identification number, and NASA keeps a history of which engines are used on each mission. The second engine, Engine 2045, has flown on several shuttle missions, including the mission that returned NASA astronaut John Glenn to space in 1998 as well as the first and only shuttle launch to occur on Independence Day in 2006. Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit and Orion, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

This photo shows the second RS-25 engine attached to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for the agency’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans structurally mated the second of four engines to the stage on Oct. 30 and are currently integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure to complete the installation. Integration of the RS-25 engines to the recently completed core stage structure is a collaborative, multistep process for NASA and its partners Boeing, the core stage lead contractor, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the RS-25 engines lead contractor. The four RS-25 engines for Artemis I are modified heritage flight hardware from the Space Shuttle Program, ensuring high performance and reliability to power NASA’s next generation lunar missions. Each engine also has a special identification number, and NASA keeps a history of which engines are used on each mission. The second engine, Engine 2045, has flown on several shuttle missions, including the mission that returned NASA astronaut John Glenn to space in 1998 as well as the first and only shuttle launch to occur on Independence Day in 2006. Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit and Orion, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

This photo shows the second RS-25 engine attached to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for the agency’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans structurally mated the second of four engines to the stage on Oct. 30 and are currently integrating the propulsion and electrical systems within the structure to complete the installation. Integration of the RS-25 engines to the recently completed core stage structure is a collaborative, multistep process for NASA and its partners Boeing, the core stage lead contractor, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the RS-25 engines lead contractor. The four RS-25 engines for Artemis I are modified heritage flight hardware from the Space Shuttle Program, ensuring high performance and reliability to power NASA’s next generation lunar missions. Each engine also has a special identification number, and NASA keeps a history of which engines are used on each mission. The second engine, Engine 2045, has flown on several shuttle missions, including the mission that returned NASA astronaut John Glenn to space in 1998 as well as the first and only shuttle launch to occur on Independence Day in 2006. Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit and Orion, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

Redstone Test Center hosted the final hot fire test of the Aerojet Rocketdyne Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) at Redstone Arsenal’s test area 5.

Redstone Test Center hosted the final hot fire test of the Aerojet Rocketdyne Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) at Redstone Arsenal’s test area 5.

Redstone Test Center hosted the final hot fire test of the Aerojet Rocketdyne Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) at Redstone Arsenal’s test area 5.

Performance Acceptance Test of a prototype-model NEXT (NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster) ion engine that was delivered to NASA Glenn Research Center by Aerojet. The test dates were May 10 - May 17, 2006. The test was conducted in the Vacuum Facility 6 test facility located in the Electric Power Laboratory. The test successfully demonstrated the PM manufacturing process carried out by Aerojet under the guidance of NASA Glenn Research Center and PM1 acceptable functionality

Roger Myers, Executive Director, Aerojet Rocketdyne speaks at a Green Propellant Infusion Mission press conference at the Reserve Officers Association, Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in Washington. The NASA GPIM program, led by Ball Aerospace in conjunction with Aerojet Rocketdyne, is demonstrating a high-performance "green" fuel in space. The propellant used on this mission offers nearly 50 percent better performance when compared to traditional hydrazine. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Legislative staff and interns from the office of U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves of Louisiana are pictured at the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA Stennis on July 11. During the visit to the south Mississippi site, the group learned more about internship opportunities with NASA and NASA Stennis. In addition to touring the test complex where RS-25 engines are tested for future Artemis missions, the group visited the Aerojet Rocketdyne Engine Assembly Facility onsite. Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, manufactures RS-25 engines to help power NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

Next-C Thruster

Next-C Thruster

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. Aerojet General was contracted to design the SNAP-8 generator which employed a mercury Rankine system to convert the reactor’s heat into electrical power. The hermetically-sealed pump was designed to generate from 35 to 90 kilowatts of electrical power. In 1964 a SNAP-8 test rig with a mercury boiler and condenser was set up in cell W-1 of Lewis’ Engine Research Building to study the transients in the system’s three loops. In 1967 a complete Rankine system was operated for 60 days in W-1 to verify the integrity of the Lewis-developed mercury boiler. Further tests in 1969 verified the shutdown and startup of the system under normal and emergency conditions. Aerojet operated the first full-Rankine system in June 1966 and completed a 2500-hour endurance test in early 1969. Lewis and Aerojet’s success on the Rankine system was acknowledged with NASA Group Achievement Award in November 1970. The 1970 vibration tests, seen here, were conducted in Lewis’ Engine Research Building’s environmental laboratory. The testing replicated the shock and vibration expected to occur during the launch into space and subsequent maneuvering. The pump was analyzed on each of its major axes.

From left: Jim Maser, senior vice president of the Space Business Unit of Aerojet Rocketdyne; acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurzyck; John Bailey, associate director of NASA's Stennis Space Center; Rick Gilbrech, director of NASA's Stennis Space Center; Mike McDaniel, general manager of Aerojet Rocketdyne at Stennis Space Center; Amy Growder, chief operating officer of Aerojet Rocketdyne; Mary Byrd, associate director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; and Jody Singer, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center; pose for a picture giving a thumbs-up following a second hot fire test of the core stage for the first flight of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in the B-2 Test Stand, Thursday, March 18, 2021, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The four RS-25 engines fired for the full-duration of 8 minutes during the test and generated 1.6 million pounds of thrust. The hot fire test is the final stage of the Green Run test series, a comprehensive assessment of the Space Launch System’s core stage prior to launching the Artemis I mission to the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Robert Markowitz)

MENTOR PROTÉGÉ AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 L TO R STANDING: STEVE MILEY, TYLER COCHRAN, STEVE WOFFORD, DAVID BROCK (ALL NASA) L TO R SEATED: DANIEL ADAMSKI (AEROJET ROCKETDYNE), JOE MCCOLLISTER (NASA), EDWINA CIOFFI (ICO RALLY)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

U.S. Representative Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), left, speaks with NASA astronaut Raja Chari following the State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Stennis employees at the E-1 Test Stand position an Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine in preparation for a series of early tests. Stennis has partnered with Orbital Sciences Corporation to test the rocket engine for the company's commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station.

An Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine is hoisted for installation at Stennis Space Center's E-1 Test Stand on July 19. Stennis operators have been preparing the E-1 stand for testing AJ26 engines since April 2009. Modifications included construction of a 27-foot-deep flame deflection trench.

NASA conducted a Sept. 28 test of an Aerojet AJ26 flight engine that will power the first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II space launch vehicle, continuing progress in a key commercial space transport partnership. Orbital is scheduled to begin commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station in 2012.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is seen prior to being introduced to speak on the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Senior Vice President, Space Business Unit, Aerojet Rocketdyne Jim Maser participates in a panel discussion after the premiere of the film "Apollo 11: First Steps Edition", Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A team of engineers at Stennis Space Center conducted a test firing of an Aerojet AJ26 flight engine Nov. 17, providing continued support to Orbital Sciences Corporation as it prepares to launch commercial cargo missions to the International Space Station. AJ26 engines will power Orbital's Taurus II rocket on the missions.

An Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine is hoisted for installation at Stennis Space Center's E-1 Test Stand on July 19. Stennis operators have been preparing the E-1 stand for testing AJ26 engines since April 2009. Modifications included construction of a 27-foot-deep flame deflection trench.

Richard Gilbrech, Director of NASA's Stennis Space Center, welcomes everyone to the State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Richard Gilbrech, Director of NASA's Stennis Space Center, welcomes everyone to the State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA engineers tested an Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center on June 25, 2012, against the backdrop of the B-1/B-2 Test Stand. The engine will be used by Orbital Sciences Corporation to power commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal during a State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

This photo shows the third of four RS-25 engines attached to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for the agency’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. NASA, Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne crews at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans attached the third RS-25 engine to the core stage for the SLS rocket on Nov. 5. The engine is one of four RS-25 engines that will provide more than 2 million pounds of thrust to send Artemis I, the first mission of SLS and NASA’s Orion spacecraft, to the Moon. The first two RS-25 engines were structurally mated to the stage in October. Following the mate, engineers and technicians will integrate the propulsion and electrical systems within the structures to complete the installation. Integration of the RS-25 engines to the recently completed core stage structure is a collaborative, multistep process for NASA and its partners Boeing, the core stage lead contractor, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, the RS-25 engines lead contractor. Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit and Orion, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) speaks at a Green Propellant Infusion Mission press conference at the Reserve Officers Association, Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in Washington. The NASA GPIM program, led by Ball Aerospace in conjunction with Aerojet Rocketdyne, is demonstrating a high-performance "green" fuel in space. The propellant used on this mission offers nearly 50 percent better performance when compared to traditional hydrazine. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., view a May 3, 2012, test of the Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center. The AJ26 engine is being tested for Orbital Sciences Corporation to power commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station.

Fire and steam signal a successful test firing of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine at John C. Stennis Space Center. AJ26 engines will be used to power Orbital's Taurus II space vehicle on commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station. On Nov. 10, operators at Stennis' E-1 Test Stand conducted a 10-second test fire of the engine, the first of a series of three verification tests. Orbital has partnered with NASA to provide eight missions to the ISS by 2015.

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., view a May 3, 2012, test of the Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine on the E-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center. The AJ26 engine is being tested for Orbital Sciences Corporation to power commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station.

Stennis Space Center test-fired Aerojet AJ26 flight engine No. 8 on Dec. 15, continuing a commercial partnership with Orbital Services Corporation. Orbital has partnered with NASA to provide commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station. The AJ26 engines tested at Stennis will power the company's Taurus II space launch vehicle on the flights.

Richard Gilbrech, Director of NASA's Stennis Space Center, right, shakes hands with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine after introducing him at the State of NASA address, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

A crane lifts developmental engine E0525 on the west side of the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Aug. 30 in preparation for a series of 12 tests that are a key step for lead SLS (Space Launch System) engines contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to produce engines that will help power the SLS rocket, beginning with Artemis V.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Richard Gilbrech, Director of NASA's Stennis Space Center, speak with members of the media following State of NASA address to discuss the fiscal year 2021 budget request, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Take Our Children to Work Day participants join NASA Stennis federal city employees for a career panel discussion on June 27. The career panel discussion included (left to right): Rebecca Mataya, NASA Stennis budget analyst; Madison Rundell, Aerojet Rocketdyne information technology specialist; Troy Chivers, COLSA/All In Solutions representative; Clyde Conerly, Lockheed Martin quality engineer; Andy Guymon, Relativity Space test engineer; and moderator Apolonia Acker, NASA Stennis public affairs specialist.

Dr. Michael Gazarik, Associate Administrator, NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, answers a reporter's question at a Green Propellant Infusion Mission press conference at the Reserve Officers Association, Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in Washington. The NASA GPIM program, led by Ball Aerospace in conjunction with Aerojet Rocketdyne, is demonstrating a high-performance "green" fuel in space. The propellant used on this mission offers nearly 50 percent better performance when compared to traditional hydrazine. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Operators at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center are completing modifications to the E-1 Test Stand to begin testing Aerojet AJ26 rocket engines in early summer of 2010. Modifications include construction of a 27-foot-deep flame deflector trench. The AJ26 rocket engines will be used to power Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Taurus II space vehicles to provide commercial cargo transportation missions to the International Space Station for NASA. Stennis has partnered with Orbital to test all engines for the transport missions.

U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) speaks at a Green Propellant Infusion Mission press conference at the Reserve Officers Association, Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in Washington. The NASA GPIM program, led by Ball Aerospace in conjunction with Aerojet Rocketdyne, is demonstrating a high-performance "green" fuel in space. The propellant used on this mission offers nearly 50 percent better performance when compared to traditional hydrazine. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Operators at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center are completing modifications to the E-1 Test Stand to begin testing Aerojet AJ26 rocket engines in early summer of 2010. Modifications include construction of a 27-foot-deep flame deflector trench. The AJ26 rocket engines will be used to power Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Taurus II space vehicles to provide commercial cargo transportation missions to the International Space Station for NASA. Stennis has partnered with Orbital to test all engines for the transport missions.

NASA conducts a full-duration RS-25 hot fire Feb. 23 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, continuing a key test series for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During the seventh test of the 12-test series, operators fired the certification engine for 550 seconds and up to a 113% power level. The hot fire followed installation of a second production engine nozzle that will provide additional performance data on the upgraded unit. The test series is the second, and final, series to certify restart production of the upgraded engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. New engines will help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on Artemis missions I through IV. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.

NASA conducts a full-duration RS-25 hot fire Feb. 23 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, continuing a key test series for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During the seventh test of the 12-test series, operators fired the certification engine for 550 seconds and up to a 113% power level. The hot fire followed installation of a second production engine nozzle that will provide additional performance data on the upgraded unit. The test series is the second, and final, series to certify restart production of the upgraded engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. New engines will help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on Artemis missions I through IV. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.

NASA conducts a full-duration RS-25 hot fire Feb. 23 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, continuing a key test series for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During the seventh test of the 12-test series, operators fired the certification engine for 550 seconds and up to a 113% power level. The hot fire followed installation of a second production engine nozzle that will provide additional performance data on the upgraded unit. The test series is the second, and final, series to certify restart production of the upgraded engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. New engines will help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on Artemis missions I through IV. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.

NASA conducts a full-duration RS-25 hot fire Feb. 23 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, continuing a key test series for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During the seventh test of the 12-test series, operators fired the certification engine for 550 seconds and up to a 113% power level. The hot fire followed installation of a second production engine nozzle that will provide additional performance data on the upgraded unit. The test series is the second, and final, series to certify restart production of the upgraded engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. New engines will help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on Artemis missions I through IV. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.

NASA conducts a full-duration RS-25 hot fire Feb. 23 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, continuing a key test series for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. During the seventh test of the 12-test series, operators fired the certification engine for 550 seconds and up to a 113% power level. The hot fire followed installation of a second production engine nozzle that will provide additional performance data on the upgraded unit. The test series is the second, and final, series to certify restart production of the upgraded engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. New engines will help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on Artemis missions I through IV. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.

Models of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft are displayed during a panel discussion on deep space eploration at the Newseum on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

NASA conducted a full-duration RS-25 hot fire April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieving a major milestone for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. It marked the final test of a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II crew member Victor Glover stands with Honoree Award recipients from NASA’s Stennis Space Center following presentation of the awards during NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program ceremony on May 4 in Orlando, Florida. Recipients (and their companies), along with ceremony presenters were: (left to right) NASA Stennis Associate Director Rodney McKellip, Shelly Lunsford (SaiTech Inc.), Odie Ladner (Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company), Rachel Deschamp (Alutiiq Essential Services), Peyton Pinson (NASA), Jack Conley (NASA), Ronnie Good (NASA), and Glover.

NASA conducted a full-duration RS-25 hot fire April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieving a major milestone for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. It marked the final test of a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V.

NASA conducted a full-duration RS-25 hot fire April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieving a major milestone for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. It marked the final test of a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V.

NASA conducted a full-duration RS-25 hot fire April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieving a major milestone for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. It marked the final test of a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V.

NASA conducted a full-duration RS-25 hot fire April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieving a major milestone for future Artemis flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. It marked the final test of a 12-test series to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power NASA’s SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V