- The $18 billion Space Launch System is the largest rocket engine ever built
- The SLS will fly astronauts to the Moon and Mars as part of the Artemis mission
- The hot fire test is due to happen at some point on or after January 17
- If this goes to plan the first uncrewed launch will happen later in 2021 and will see SLS launch the Orion spacecraft to the Moon and back
DAILY MAIL —
NASA‘s massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will one day take astronauts to the Moon and Mars is to undergo its final ‘hot fire’ engine test later this month.
The space agency confirmed the four massive engines will be bolted to the ground during the firing – the final test before an uncrewed test flight later this year.
The rocket has already undergone a number of static engine tests and the next trial – the hot fire test – will happen at some point from January 17.
SLS is designed to be the backbone of the Artemis programme – which will see the first woman land on the Moon in 2024 and humans land on Mars in the 2030s.
