The SLS rocket has cost the American taxpayer many billions of kroner. For well over ten years, it has been the main investment of the American space agency Nasa. On Wednesday morning, it was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The vast majority of the rocket is already scrap in the sea. Only the top stage and the Orion spacecraft have reached space. IN ORBIT: The drawing shows all that is left of the big lunar rocket now. The rest has fallen into the sea as scrap. The rocket is not reusable. Photo: Nasa Going to the moon A little after 0920 Norwegian time today, what is left of the rocket will be sent on to the moon. The plan is for the Orion spacecraft to go once around our neighbor in space before returning to Earth again. Orion will land in the Pacific Ocean in 28 days. If all goes well. There are no people in the rocket this time. This entire first voyage of the Artemis program is to show that it will later be safe for humans to use the new system. COMPLICATED: The Orion spacecraft will make a trip around the moon before returning to land on Earth in 28 days. Photo: Nasa The next challenge The top stage of the rocket shut down after just over eight minutes. This step must be able to turn itself on again. To get the Orion spacecraft to the moon, the upper stage must re-ignite the engines at just the right time. If this engine burn goes well, the Americans will be on their way to the moon again. It has been over 50 years since they last sent a spacecraft intended for humans to our satellite. Third attempt The rocket is called SLS. It stands for “Space Launch System”. The rocket has had a long journey from the drawing board to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There have been many delays and technical challenges along the way. It has now been launched several years behind schedule. The launch itself was also a protracted event. Twice previously it has been ready. Then there was a rush
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The moon rocket SLS launched – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
