Performance of SpaceX’s Raptor Engine Proves Exceptional in NASA’s Artemis III Lunar Lander Trials

Renderings of SpaceX’s Starship human landing vehicle, designated to transport the inaugural crew of NASA astronauts to the Moon’s surface as part of the Artemis initiative, have been released. Image Courtesy: SpaceX

NASA is in a joint venture with SpaceX to advance the Starship Human Landing System designed for lunar expeditions. Following successful evaluations of the engine under harsh conditions, the subsequent phase involves a comprehensive flight assessment of both the Starship and Super Heavy components.

NASA is collaborating with SpaceX to refine the Starship Human Landing System (HLS) for deployment on the Artemis III and Artemis IV missions. These missions aim to land U.S. astronauts in the vicinity of the Moon’s South Pole. The propulsion for the Starship HLS will be supplied by two distinct variants of SpaceX’s Raptor engines—each tailored for operation either at sea-level atmospheric pressure or in the vacuum of outer space where no atmosphere exists.

A test was conducted on a Raptor Vacuum engine under conditions simulating the cold temperatures experienced after a prolonged period in space. Image Courtesy: SpaceX

In the previous month, SpaceX executed a test to gauge the performance of a vacuum-optimized Raptor engine, verifying its ability to initiate in the harsh cold brought about by extended space travel. A particular challenge separating Artemis missions from low Earth orbit missions is the prospect that the landers might remain inactive in space for extended durations, causing hardware temperatures to plummet below those encountered in shorter low Earth orbit missions.

The test firing that lasted 281 seconds revealed the engine’s capacity to satisfy the requirements of a controlled descent onto the lunar terrain. Image Courtesy: SpaceX

Among the initial test milestones completed by SpaceX in November 2021 for the Artemis III mission contract was also an engine assessment. This test validated the Raptor engine’s capabilities during a crucial landing phase on the Moon. During a 281-second test fire, the engine demonstrated its effectiveness in the powered descent stage, which occurs as the Starship HLS exits lunar orbit and commences its downward journey to the Moon’s surface. The objectives of the test were twofold: to prove the Raptor’s capability to modulate its engine power, termed its throttle profile, and to sustain combustion for the entire duration of the powered descent phase. This successful test furnished NASA with preliminary assurance in SpaceX’s engine technology.

Evaluating vital hardware and technologies in both simulated and actual flight conditions is crucial for the progression of Artemis lunar landers. Such tests furnish early, mission-specific validation for systems essential to the astronaut lunar journey. Post-test data assessments continually bolster NASA’s growing confidence in the American industry’s preparedness for these missions. The next rigorous test for SpaceX’s Raptor engines will be during the company’s second comprehensive flight evaluation of both the Starship and Super Heavy components.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Artemis III Raptor Engine Tests

More about Artemis III Raptor Engine Tests

• NASA’s Artemis Program
• SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System
• Overview of Raptor Engine
• Artemis III Mission Details
• Artemis IV Mission Overview
• SpaceX’s Integrated Flight Tests
• U.S. Lunar Exploration Plans
• NASA-SpaceX Collaboration