NASA’s first Space Launch System megarocket will fireplace up its major engines in a crucial take a look at subsequent week to show it is prepared for a visit to the moon later this 12 months.
The engine take a look at, the ultimate hurdle of NASA’s intensive “inexperienced run” for the Area Launch System (SLS) core booster, is scheduled for March 18 on the company’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. If all goes nicely, the booster will then be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida for the launch of Artemis 1, an uncrewed mission across the moon that’s at the moment slated to fly in November.
“This sizzling fireplace is the final take a look at earlier than the Artemis I core stage is shipped to the company’s Kennedy Area Middle for meeting and integration with the remainder of the rocket’s main parts and the Orion spacecraft,” NASA officers said in a statement on Wednesday (March 10).
Video: How NASA’s SLS megarocket engine test works
Through the upcoming sizzling fireplace take a look at, the SLS core booster will fireplace its 4 RS-25 rocket engines for as much as eight minutes to simulate an precise Artemis launch of an Orion spacecraft. NASA first tried the new fireplace take a look at on Jan. 16, but it shut down earlier than planned.
NASA had hoped to carry out a second sizzling fireplace take a look at of the SLS booster in February, however ran into more delays due to valve concerns. SLS engineers spent latest weeks repairing and testing a liquid oxygen pre-valve on the rocket, setting the stage for the March 18 engine take a look at.
This week, SLS engineers had been anticipated to energy up the core booster for closing techniques examine. On Tuesday (March 16), the rocket might be powered up for the precise sizzling fireplace, kicking off a two-day countdown for the engine take a look at.
NASA’s SLS rocket is designed to be the go-to booster for the company’s Artemis program, which goals to launch astronauts again to the moon by 2024. It consists of a core booster, two strap-on strong rocket boosters and an higher stage to launch an Orion spacecraft towards the moon.
E-mail Tariq Malik at tmalik@area.com or observe him @tariqjmalik. Comply with us @Spacedotcom, Fb and Instagram.
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