NASA Continues Space Launch System Rocket Testing for Future Artemis Missions

NASA welcomed 2024 with another round of tests for the Space Launch System rocket in support of future Artemis missions.

On Wednesday, the U.S. space agency conducted a critical test series to obtain data that will help in producing new RS-25 engines by Aerojet Rocketdyne, a L3Harris Technologies subsidiary. The January 2024 test comes after a similar series was performed in October 2023, when operators fired the engines for durations ranging from 500 to 650 seconds, NASA .gov reported.

The Artemis campaign is an initiative by the space agency to create a long-term presence on the moon, allowing greater scientific exploration with commercial and international partners.

The space agency originally planned to launch its Artemis 2 and 3 lunar missions in 2024 but decided to delay them due to technical problems. The missions are not expected to launch no earlier than September 2025.

The Artemis contract comes after Aerojet Rocketdyne was acquired by L3Harris Technologies in July 2023 for $4.7 billion.