Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine passes long duration test

A full-scale 3D-printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) was successfully tested for 251 seconds, producing more than 5,800 pounds of thrust, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. According to NASA, “the RDRE differs from a traditional rocket engine by generating thrust using a supersonic combustion phenomenon known as a detonation. This design produces more power while using less fuel than today’s propulsion systems and has the potential to power both human landers and interplanetary vehicles to deep space destinations, such as the Moon and Mars.” Credit: NASA Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine hot fire test