SpaceX concludes cold start demo of engine for NASA Artemis Starship HLS

SpaceX recently demonstrated the performance of a vacuum-optimized Raptor engine which will be powering NASA's Artemis Starship human landing system (HLS). The test successfully confirmed the engine can be started in extreme cold conditions resulting from extended time in space.

The Starship HLS will be used during NASA's Artemis III and Artemis IV missions to land American astronauts near the Moon's South Pole. It will be powered by two variants of Raptor engines - one optimized to operate in atmospheric pressure at sea level and the other to operate in space, or vacuum, where there is no atmosphere.

Cold engines are 🔥!@SpaceX recently conducted a cold start demo of a Raptor Vacuum engine for the @NASAArtemis Starship HLS. This test fired pre-chilled engine hardware simulating in-space thermal conditions for landing on the Moon. MORE >> https://t.co/k7hqOReocv pic.twitter.com/Tg6B2mWdZB

— NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) September 14, 2023

"These tests provide early and mission-like validation of the systems necessary for carrying astronauts to and from the lunar surface. Data reviews following these tests provide NASA with continually increasing confidence in U.S. industry's readiness for the mission," NASA wrote in a blog post on Thursday.

What's next?

NASA said that the Starship HLS Raptor engines will now be put to the test during SpaceX's second integrated flight test of Starship and Super Heavy.