NASA’s 3D-printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Test

Test stand video captured at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, shows ignition of a full-scale Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine combustor, which was fired for a record 251 seconds and achieved more than 5,800 pounds of thrust.

[iaial]

The most fascinating thing about these kinds of tests is that, when it seems that they're about to break, the engineers just push it more and the engine delivers. Fascinating.

[TerkanTyr]

It looks like something out of fiction, that blue perfect glowing circle.

But the sound is so violent, it strikes me as such a fitting juxtaposition between the elegant fantasy of space and the brutal reality of what space travel actually demands.

[boarattackboar]

Incredible! I cant even imagine how much work has been done to achieve this kind of progress. Bravo to all the brilliant engineers!

[JFirnQ]

Glad to see NASA still pushing. I learned about this many years ago, and later several people trying it had stability for only microseconds. This was a full blown test now, amazing!

[berfy]

I've seen some comments asking for comparisons to today's engines. Advantages are primarily in scale/form factor. Detonation engines, specifically the RDEs have been found to produce similar performance (thrust and Isp) with as low as 30% smaller engines (I forget if it's by mass or volume, but I think NASA has quoted some nunbers for this before, it's a quanitifiable decrease) than their counterparts with similar propellants and thrust class. Smaller engines = more payload or smaller vehicles or more utilization (landers, orbit adjustment) or ... the list goes on and on. They can work while being smaller because of the nature of the detonations: they move fast, they burn fast, and they burn hot, so combustion can occur "quicker" meaning the engines do not need to be as large to contain and divert the combustion for thrust. RDEs are revolutionary (pun intended) because they are a great step towards making space more accessible!

[FishyAltFishy]

NASA revving while they wait for the traffic light in the background😂

[VECORlt]

Wow, something I've read about good 10 years ago, now being real and tested, good to see progress!

[JeffDM]

Any chance for slow-motion where the detonation movement is visible? Or is that not possible with this assembly?

[JonathanMickelson]

Outstanding! I love seeing Marshall Space Flight Center innovating and perfecting the state of the art… This type of R&D investment in America’s Space Program is crucial to our future in space! RDE has great potential!

[Chanselor_Gowron]

never before have i seen a hyperfixation return like this. welcome back, my younger self

[MelindaGreen]

Rotating detonation is definitely a breakthrough technology

[Marth]

I'm always impressed at how much NASA can do with how little money is given to it. Always a pleasure to see the fruits of your labours guys, wishing you a happy new year!

[dhiwakarj]

A problem faced by rocket engine in 1960 turned into a new engine in 2023....this shows what new technological developments can achieve

[Matz]

Extremely impressive! Making such an engine run stably for any length of time is a rare feat, and the great success NASA's been having with this program is a sign that maybe the time of rotating detonation engines (with their smaller size and potential higher efficiency than conventional engines, and a natural affinity for lighter aerospike nozzles) has finally come near!
Of course, it may be a while before the reliability of lighting them and keeping them running stably is enough to actually use.

[gaius_enceladus]

*Excellent* stuff! Great video!
The engine was running beautifully! Steady as a rock! Well done, NASA!

[raptorsean]

Great work, NASA team!
We need this engine, so keep up the great work!

[primeslayer]

This looks so cool. Something straight out of sci-fi!

[RandomGgames]

Wow that looked incredibly stable. I wonder what that looks like in slow motion/what data was extracted from this!

[mulukiterstudioA]

More powerful and longer on action than the previous one, good work

[merxellus]

I seen a video of Rotating detonation engine from Scott Manley 3 years back.. So great to see NASA finally perfecting it.. Cant wait to see a Rocket fly with it🚀