NASA shows off the SLS rocket to be used in its Artemis lunar mission.
After years of developing this mission, the space agency is getting closer and closer to deploying presence to the lunar surface again.
NASA recently posted a behind the scenes peak of what went down with the rocket's testing during the wet dress rehearsal.
It's possible that this video may not be the most exciting thing to have happened on a rocket, but it does show the engine nozzles gimbaling at the base of the booster.
Despite this, the video provides some insight into the operation of various components of the SLS rocket when it is put through its paces during the upcoming flight.
NASA SLS Engine Test Video
NASA has provided the public with an up-close look at its next-generation Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket while it was undergoing a test prior to its first flight. The test took place not too long ago.
The video of the engine being tested by NASA was published on their official Twitter account while they were conducting an extensive wet dress rehearsal with their newest rocket.
According to the space agency, the video shown was the "SLS's engine running through their paces during the @NASAArtemis wet dress rehearsal test."
Check out @NASA_SLS 's engines running through their paces during the @NASAArtemis wet dress rehearsal test.
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) July 10, 2022
Now that the test is complete, the @NASAGroundSys team will complete final checkouts before rolling to the pad for launch. pic.twitter.com/HsHydLoY81
NASA also hinted at the next step to be taken after the wet dress rehearsals were successfully carried on. The agency plans to complete another final check before they roll the rocket to the pad for its launch.
As the nozzles at the base of the rocket are able to move around, the rocket is able to stay on course and maintain its stability while it is in the air, as is demonstrated in the video clip.
According to Digital Trends, the majority of today's rockets gimbal, or rotate, the nozzle in order to produce the control force. The exhaust nozzle of the rocket is able to swivel from side to side when the rocket is equipped with a gimbaled thrust system.
When the nozzle is moved, the thrust in the rocket is redirected in a different direction in relation to its center of gravity.
When it came to generating control force, several older rockets, like Atlas, utilized small auxiliary rocket engines that were attached to the bottom of the main rocket.
NASA's Artemis Mission: What's Next?
After conducting an in-depth analysis of the data obtained during the wet dress rehearsal, NASA has concluded that the testing campaign is now complete.
NASA will return Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS) to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in order to complete the launch preparations for the rocket and spacecraft.
According to deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems at NASA Headquarters, Tom Whitmeyer, "We have completed the rehearsal phase, and everything we've learned will help improve our ability to lift off during the target launch window."
Therefore, he added, "The team is now ready to take the next step and prepare for launch."
The Space Launch System, or SLS for short, is a vehicle developed by NASA that will lay the groundwork for human exploration of space beyond the orbit of Earth.
It is one of the latest rockets that NASA has been developing for years. It is also the most powerful, the tallest, and the heaviest.
Whatever the space agency learned from the previous rockets and space missions, especially lunar missions, all have been applied to improve the SLS rocket.
With how fast things are progressing for NASA's Artemis, the scheduled launch date for the first mission of Artemis has a high possibility of being announced this year.
