STENNIS SPACE CENTER AND NASA’S ARTEMIS PROGRAM THE NEW PROGRAM THE ‘GREEN RUN’ NASA’s Artemis Program, Prior to the Artemis I mission, NASA is testing the Space named for the twin sister of Launch System core stage on the B-2 Test Stand at Stennis. Apollo, will return astronauts to For Green Run, the stage is installed on the stand and the Moon to establish a strategic tested – along with all of its related components and systems U.S. presence. It will send the – for the first time and in the same way it must operate first woman and the next man on a mission. This includes firing all four RS-25 engines to the Moon by 2024. simultaneously to generate 1.6 million pounds of combined sea-level thrust.

THE NEW VEHICLE The Space Launch System is THE TRADITION being developed as the most All Saturn V first and second rocket stages that carried powerful rocket in history to astronauts to the surface of the Moon during the travel deeper into space than Apollo Program were tested at Stennis Space Center. ever and, ultimately, to Mars. All space shuttle main engines and the space shuttle main propulsion test article – with its three engines – was tested at Stennis prior to the vehicle’s maiden flight. THE CORE STAGE The Space Launch System THE ASSIGNMENT core stage is powered by four l Test all RS-25 engines that will help power RS-25 engines, firing together to the new Space Launch System vehicle. generate 1.6 million pounds l Test the Space Launch System core stage prior of combined sea-level thrust and to its launch on the Artemis I mission. more than 2 million pounds of altitude thrust. THE IMPORTANCE l Prove new engines, hardware, and operating parameters. THE ENGINES l Ensure astronaut safety by identifying RS-25 engines for initial Artemis and addressing potential issues prior to missions. Program missions are space l Increase probability of mission success. shuttle main engines, modified to provide more power and use a THE STATUS new controller. Each engine was NASA performed the first RS-25 engine test anchored in place on the A-1 at Stennis in January 2015. All RS-25 engines and new Test Stand at Stennis and fired controllers for the first four Artemis missions have been just as during an actual launch. tested and proven flightworthy at Stennis. The Space Launch System core stage was delivered to Stennis in THE FUTURE January 2020. It is installed on the B-2 Test Stand and Artemis missions will test undergoing a series of tests before being shipped hardware, technologies, to Kennedy Space Center for preparation and launch on capabilities, and approaches the Artemis I mission. Stennis also will test new RS-25 needed for future space missions, engines built by Aerojet Rocektdyne for use on including to Mars. future Space Launch System missions.

Front image - RS-25 engine test at Stennis Space Center on Jan. 9, 2015 www.nasa.gov http://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/