This advanced rocket engine design could one day change how future propulsion systems are built! Marshall propulsion engineers designed the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) to differ from a traditional rocket engine by generating thrust using a supersonic combustion phenomenon known as detonation. This NASA Technology 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

A rocket engine test is a key step to check if a rocket engine works well, is reliable, and safe. Tests happen in special facilities that can handle extreme heat, high-pressure exhaust, and dangerous fuels. The engine is fired on a test stand to measure things like thrust, fuel use, combustion stability, and how long the engine lasts under conditions like a real space launch. Tests differ based on the engine type—liquid, solid, or hybrid. For liquid engines, cold fuels like liquid hydrogen and o