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YEREVAN, 27 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. A full-scale version of the biggest rocket ever madeis ready to fire for a major ground test.
Nasa's Space Launch System is expected to one day take man to Mars.
It is set to become the largest rocket ever built, dwarfing the rockets that took man to the moon and paving the way for manned missions to Mars.
When completed, two five-segment boosters and four RS-25 engines will power the SLS to orbit and enable astronauts to explore destinations in deep space, including an asteroid and the Red Planet.
The two-minute, full-duration static test -- scheduled for March 11 at booster prime contractor ATK's test facility in Promontory, Utah -- is a huge milestone for the program and will qualify the booster design for high temperature conditions.
This type of test typically only comes after multiple years of development and signifies major progress being made on the rocket.
Once this test and a second, low-temperature test planned for early 2016 are complete, the hardware is qualified and ready for the first flight of SLS.
'With RS-25 engine testing underway, and this qualification booster firing coming up, we are taking big steps toward building this rocket and fulfilling NASA's mission of Mars and beyond,' said SLS Program Manager Todd May.