one of NASA’s key goals for 2021 Is the launch of Artemis I, an unmanned lunar mission designed to show that the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System missile can safely send humans to our lunar neighbor. But first, NASA plans to make some noise with a fiery SLS test on Saturday.

NASA is nearing the end of its Green Run test series that puts the base stage – which the agency describes as “the backbone of an SLS missile” – through its paces before it actually takes off from this rock at some point in the future.

The eighth and final part of the test series is set for Saturday, January 16th, when NASA starts an exciting hot fire. NASA TV will provide live coverage beginning at 1:20 PM PDT. The test windows open for two hours at 2 PM

“The upcoming shooting test will fire all four stage RS-25 engines simultaneously for up to eight minutes to simulate base stage performance during launch,” NASA said in a statement In January. 5.

SLS experienced delays While developing it, it is still at the center of NASA’s ambitious plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 through the Artemis program. Report from last year This history calls into question Based on program costs, SLS setbacks, and scheduling impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.

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Test fires are so much fun, as we saw last year when it was The SLS booster lit up the Utah Desert And sand turned into glass.

The SLS Green Run test will take place at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and it comes after NASA worked to solve an unexpected problem in a previous test, a wet dress rehearsal that marks the first time that cryogenic or extremely cold liquid fuels have been used. Two huge tanks in the SLS base stage and discharged from it. “

The rehearsal stopped a little early, but NASA traced the problem down to a timing issue that was later corrected that shouldn’t affect the hot fire. If all goes well, NASA will remain on track for a possible launch of Artemis 1 in late 2021.

Each successful test brings the moon a little closer within human reach.