RS-25
Videos
The RS-25, also known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine, is a liquid-fuel cryogenic rocket engine that was used on NASA's Space Shuttle and is used on the Space Launch System.
RS-25 test firing. The bright area at the bottom of the picture is a shock diamond.
The large silver pipe across the top carries fuel from the low-pressure fuel turbopump (not visible) to the high-pressure fuel turbopump (HPFTP, silver drum at lower left). The top of the HPFTP is bolted to part of the hot gas manifold (black, with brown diagonal pipe), and above that is the fuel pre-burner (also black, with brown pipe entering at right).
The nozzles of Space Shuttle Columbia's three RS-25s following the landing of STS-93. The bright spot in engine 3's nozzle (bottom right) is from damage that occurred during liftoff.
A Block II RS-25D main engine controller
Space Launch System
Videos
The Space Launch System is an American two-stage super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle used by NASA. The primary launch vehicle for the Artemis program, SLS is designed to launch the four-person
RS-25
…also known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), is a liquid-fuel cryogenic rocket engine that was used on NASA's Space Shuttle and is used on the Space Launch System. Designed and manufactured in the United States by Rocketdyne (later Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Aerojet Rocketdyne), the RS-25 burns cryogenic (very…
SLS with the Orion spacecraft launching from Pad 39B for Artemis II
The SLS core stage rolling out of the Michoud Assembly Facility
SLS of Artemis II, with side view showing one of the two boosters
Test fire of BOLE prototype, June 2025