While it was the previous recording setting test firing, NASA’s testing on the J-2X cleared another mark on June 13th with a 260 second test firing representative of a normal full mission duration.
NASA is testing the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne J-2X as part of their Space Launch System development effort. The SLS is intended to be NASA’s next heavy lift launcher, the de facto replacement for the Space Shuttle. SLS replaced the cancelled Constellation program as the latter was felt to be too ambitious given the budget constraints. However, a number of Constellation elements live on in SLS – including the J-2X, the Space Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Boosters, and the Orion crew capsule.
