NASA recently tested its advanced propulsion system, a 3D-printed rotating detonation rocket engine powered by supersonic technology. The successful trial at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, showcased a sustained burn lasting three times longer than the initial test, generating over 5,800 pounds of thrust for 251 seconds.
This propulsion, known as the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), utilizes supersonic combustion, providing increased power efficiency and reduced fuel consumption compared to conventional systems. The RDRE has the potential to support crewed landers and interplanetary vehicles for deep space missions to destinations like the Moon and Mars. NASA is actively working to scale the technology for higher performance, aiming to develop a fully reusable 10,000-pound RDRE to advance the agency’s Moon to Mars vision.
Sincerely, Arch Town Labs
