Space Shuttle Main Engine

The shuttle used three of these RS-25 engines made by Aerojet Rocketdyne. With a fuel of liquid hydrogen and oxygen they could produce over 418,000 lbs of thrust. The engines had a mass of about 3.5 tonnes and could be throttled between 67% and 109% and subjected their components to temperatures up to 6000° F (3,300° C) equalling the surface temperature of the sun. The massive rust colored external tank suppled the fuel needed for its 8.5 minute launch duration up to MECO (main engine cut-off).

After being 11 years out of service since the last shuttle mission, enhanced versions of the engine with 25% greater thrust were pressed back into service for the SLS-1/Artemis mission in September, 2022.