The United States Aeronautics and Space Agency conducted a test of the engine of its next-generation J-2X rocket on July 14. It is the first step in a project aimed at taking the human being beyond Earth's orbit, into deep space .
The J-2X engine, designed to start and restart in space, uses liquid hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. The thruster is capable of generating around 133,000 kilograms of thrust to lift a spacecraft into low Earth orbit or about 101,000 kilograms to propel it into deep space, out of Earth orbit.
The test, conducted on a test bench at the John C Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, lasted 1.9 seconds. This is the first in a series of tests to be carried out with the J-2X engine.
