The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published a video
What is known
NASA uses the RS-25 engine.This development can hardly be called new. The engine was used in the space shuttle over 40 years ago. However, the federal space agency has upgraded it several times over the decades and continued to operate after the shutdown of shuttle flights.
In more detail, in the lunar programArtemis uses a simplified version of the RS-25, which is designated RS-25E. The downgrade allowed the agency to save money and make the engine disposable. It is equipped with new controllers and some components have been 3D printed.
NASA conducted a full duration test.This means that the RS-25E operated for as long as it would have to function aboard the SLS rocket. The engine's thrust was nearly 190 tons, making it the most powerful in the United States.
The comic agency revealed that Boeing has alreadycompletes assembly of the SLS main stage for the Artemis II mission. It will be equipped with a quartet of RS-25E engines. In parallel, the company begins to prepare for the assembly of SLS for Artemis II.
NASA will use Block I-level SLS rocketin the Artemis II and Artemis III missions. Then the Block 1B configuration will take over. It will abandon the cryogenic propulsion stage, which was also used in the Artemis I mission in 2022. Instead, a certain “research upper stage” will be applied.