MCGREGOR (March 10, 2009)—Space Exploration Technologies Corp. successfully test-fired its new Merlin Vacuum engine Saturday at its test facility in McGregor west of Waco, although without the same window-rattling fire-in-the-sky effect of another weekend engine test last year.

The engine fired for six minutes and consumed 100,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene propellant, SpaceX said.

The engine powers the upper stage of the the company’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and generated about 92,5000 pounds of force in vacuum conditions during the test.

“Specific impulse, or Isp, indicates how efficiently a rocket engine converts propellant into thrust,” said Tom Mueller, Vice President of Propulsion for SpaceX.

“With a vacuum Isp of 342 seconds, the new Merlin Vacuum engine has exceeded our requirements, setting a new standard for American hydrocarbon engine performance in space.”

NASA recently selected SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station after the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.

The Falcon 9’s inaugural flight is scheduled later this year from the company’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

On Nov. 22, SpaceX fired the nine engines of the Falcon 9’s first stage for nearly three minutes at its McGregor facility.

The rocket generated 855,000 pounds of force at full power and the late-night test rattled windows and startled residents throughout much of Waco and the surrounding area.

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