Nasa’s most powerful rocket in history — the Space Launch System (SLS) — will blast off from Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral on Monday afternoon.
Nasa’s most powerful rocket in history — the Space Launch System will blast off from Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral on Monday afternoon.
This marks a new era in Space exploration for Nasa. The first launch of the new SLS rocket, which is entitled Artemis 1, is the beginning of the US space agency’s aim to put astronauts back on the moon within three years.
It is the most powerful rocket ever made, for starters. It will generate 3.9 million kilos of thrust, enough to keep around 22 jumbo jets in flight.
The rocket will reach close to 6,400 kilometres per hour in just two minutes. Within eight minutes, it will be travelling at close to 29,000km/h. Fast enough to circle the entire planet in approximately 80 minutes. Top speed will be around 36,000km/h. To put this into perspective — it’s the equivalent of travelling from Dublin to New York in roughly eight minutes.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will create the most force ever generated by a rocket when it lifts off on Monday. During testing of the SLS in Utah, the engines generated so much heat it fused desert sand into glass.
The lift-off will be broadcast live on Nasa’s website and YouTube channel and it is scheduled to take off at approximately 13:33pm Irish time.
