NASA has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing a rocket engine that was 3D-printed, marking a ‘Huge Leap’ in space technology

NASA, known for its astronomical explorations, is also actively involved in developing and testing new engines and space vehicles. A recent breakthrough occurred on Wednesday (Dec 20), when NASA successfully tested a 3D-printed engine known as the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE).

This test was conducted in fall 2023 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. During the test, the engine underwent a 251-second ‘hot fire test’ and produced over 5800 pounds of thrust.

Thomas Teasley, a Marshall combustion devices engineer and the head of the RDRE test effort, explained that the duration and intensity of the rocket burn demonstrated in this test are comparable to what is needed for a spacecraft’s landing or for deep-space maneuvers, such as a journey from the Moon to Mars.

Teasley highlighted the significance of the RDRE, stating that it marks a “huge leap” in design efficiency. He emphasized its potential in creating lightweight propulsion systems, crucial for sending more mass and payload into deep space. This aligns with NASA’s Moon to Mars vision.

The RDRE’s initial hot fire test occurred in the summer of 2022, in collaboration with In Space LLC and Purdue University. That test generated over 4000 pounds of thrust for nearly a minute.

The primary goal of the latest test, according to Teasley, was to understand better how to scale the combustor for various thrust classes. This knowledge would support a wide range of engine systems and expand the scope of missions the RDRE could be used for, from landers and upper stage engines to supersonic retropropulsion.