At 4:27pm central time, the SLS rocket core stage ignited its 4 RS-25 engines at NASA’s Stennis House Middle. The take a look at was to last as long as eight minutes. [credit: Trevor Mahlmann for Ars ]
STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss.—For just a few moments, it appeared just like the House Launch System saga might need a cheerful ending. Beneath sensible blue skies late on Saturday afternoon, NASA’s big rocket roared to life for the very first time. As its 4 engines lit, and thrummed, thunder rumbled throughout these Mississippi lowlands. A large, stunning plume of white exhaust billowed away from the take a look at stand.
It was all fairly rattling wonderful till it stopped abruptly.
About 50 seconds into what was purported to be an 8-minute take a look at firing, the flight management middle known as out, “We did get an MCF on Engine 4.” This implies there was a “main part failure” with the fourth engine on the car. After a complete of about 67 seconds, the new fireplace take a look at ended.
Learn 24 remaining paragraphs | Feedback