SpaceX has successfully completed a series of Raptor engine tests for NASA’s Artemis III moon lander, better known as the human landing system (HLS). The Starship HLS comes equipped with two variants of SpaceX’s Raptor engines, with the first optimized to operate in atmospheric pressure at sea level, while the other is designed to function in space where there is no atmosphere.
One of the tests involved a critical phase of landing on the Moon that required a 281-second-long test firing, demonstrateing the powered descent portion of the mission, when the Starship HLS leaves its orbit over the lunar surface and begins its descent before landing. This showed Raptor’s ability to change the level of engine power over time, known as its throttle profile, and its ability to burn the full length of time of the powered descent phase.
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Testing critical technologies and hardware under simulated and actual flight conditions is key for the development of Artemis Moon landers. These tests provide early and mission-like validation of the systems necessary for carrying astronauts to and from the lunar surface,” said Vanessa C Lloyd, Public Affairs Officer at NASA.
