The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that the new version of the rotary detonation engine (RDD) prototype has been successfully tested. The 3D-printed power plant lasted four minutes longer than the previous version and produced more than 2.6 tons of thrust.

“VDD will take a big step forward in the field of structural efficiency. It gives hope that we are closer to creating lightweight propulsion systems that will allow us to send more cargo into space. These are the most important conditions required for flights to the Moon and Mars ” said Thomas Teasley, project manager for the VDD project in downtown Marshall.

According to NASA representatives, 4 minutes of engine operation is sufficient, for example, to launch a spacecraft on a course from the Moon to Mars or to land a module.

The first VDD firing test was conducted at the Marshall Center in summer 2022 in collaboration with In Space and Purdue University. During the test, the power plant generated a thrust of over 1.8 tons for almost a minute.