NASA Achieves Success with 3D-Printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Test

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has successfully tested a 3D-printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) for over four minutes, generating more than 5,800 pounds of thrust. The test aimed to understand how to scale the combustor to different thrust classes, supporting various engine systems and missions, including landers and deep space burns. The RDRE offers improved design efficiency, enabling the transportation of more mass and payload further into deep space, aligning with NASA's Moon to Mars vision. NASA's Glenn Research Center and Venus Aerospace are collaborating to scale the technology for higher performance.