The Engine Test Simulator exhibit at the NASA Stennis Official Visitor Center offers an opportunity to experience the thrill of being a NASA test engineer by guiding the RS-25 engine through a simulated hot-fire test.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a NASA engineer, responsible for making sure that the engine is ready for launch,” said Chris Barnett Woods, a NASA engineer who helped develop the software for the exhibit. So it should be tested safely.”
Seated at the mirrored console of the original NASA Stennis Test Control Center, users are immersed in the complex process of engine testing. The exhibit uses advanced software and visual displays to teach participants how to manage liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants and other essential elements during a hot fire.
Users follow step-by-step instructions that include pressing buttons, managing the propellant tank, and closing the flare stack, just like the real engineers at NASA Stennis. Once the test is complete, they are congratulated for successfully firing their rocket engine hot.
Interactive exhibits aren’t just about pressing buttons. It’s full of interesting facts about the RS-25 engine, which helps power NASA. Artemis missions as the Agency explores the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. Visitors can also view the original hot fire at NASA Stennis from multiple angles, enhancing their understanding of rocket propulsion testing and NASA’s journey to the moon and beyond.
NASA is currently preparing for the Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight test of the agency’s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon.
The first four Artemis missions are using modified Space Shuttle engines that have been tested at NASA’s Stance. The center also received a test. Milestones engines last April to power future Artemis missions. For each Artemis mission, four RS-25 engines, along with a pair of solid rocket boosters, power NASA’s SLS rocket, generating a combined thrust of more than 8.8 million pounds.
The revitalized exhibit, previously used when the Visitor Center was onsite, represents a collaborative effort. It began as an intern project in the summer of 2023 before evolving into a full-fledged experiment. Engineers built on the initial concept, combining carpentry, audio and video to create a seamless experience for education and motivation.
Best of all, INFINITY Science Center visitors can repeat the simulation as many times as they like, gaining confidence and learning more with each try.
“This exhibit has been a favorite in the past, and with its new upgrade, Engine Test Simulator is ready to capture the imaginations of the Artemis generation. Infinity Science CenterNASA public affairs specialist Simone Wilson said. “This is an exhibition you won’t want to miss.” INFINITY Science Center is located at 1 Discovery Circle, Pearlington, Mississippi. For hours of operation and admission information, please visit www.visitinfinity.com.