Nasa conducts hot fire test for Space Launch System rocket

Nasa has conducted the hot fire test for its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket before launching the Artemis I mission to the Moon.

The hot fire is the final test of the Green Run series that began in January 2020.

Nasa’s four RS-25 engines were slated to fire slightly over eight minutes but ended with a shutdown after more than one minute into the hot fire following ignition.

Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine said: “Saturday’s test was an important step forward to ensure that the core stage of the SLS rocket is ready for the Artemis I mission and to carry crew on future missions.

“Although the engines did not fire for the full duration, the team successfully worked through the countdown, ignited the engines, and gained valuable data to inform our path forward.”

Nasa teams are evaluating the data to understand the causes of the early shutdown and will determine a path forward.

They will also inspect the core stage and its four RS-25 engines prior to determining the next steps.

The 212ft core stage generated 1.6Mlb of thrust at the B-2 Test Stand at Nasa’s Stennis Space Centre near Bay St Louis, Mississippi.

As part of the Artemis programme, Nasa is planning to land the first woman and the next man onboard the SLS and the Orion spacecraft to the Moon in 2024.

Last August, Nasa Artemis I lunar mission’s SLS rocket successfully completed the first four Green Run tests.