Yes, Rocket Lab is blowing up engines. No, it's not a big deal, CEO says.

Source: Ars Technica

Engine Test Fire at Stennis Space Center

A little more than two months ago, a Rocket Lab employee called the Stennis Space Center Fire Department from the nearby A3 test stand after a grass fire broke out where Archimedes engines undergo testing.

According to the fire station’s November 30 dispatcher log, the employee said, “The fire started during a test when an anomaly caused an electrical box to catch fire.”

Satellite imagery from before and after the incident shows that the roof of the left test cell—one of two at the historic NASA facility in southern Mississippi—had been blown off. One source with knowledge of the event clarified, “The characterization of this as an electrical fire doesn’t reflect what actually occurred. This was a catastrophic engine explosion that resulted in significant infrastructure damage.”

Two sources indicate this is one of at least two Archimedes engine tests that have failed in the past three months.

The engine test anomalies come at a critical time for Rocket Lab, which is finalizing development of a flight‑ready version of the Archimedes engine. The engine burns liquid oxygen and methane and delivers a sea‑level thrust of 165,000 lb. Nine of these engines will power the company’s much‑anticipated Neutron rocket, slated for a debut launch later this year.

Making mountains out of molehills?

In response to a query from Ars about the engine test anomalies, Rocket Lab Chief Executive Officer Pete Beck downplayed concerns.