NASA successfully carried out a key
static test of its troubled Space Launch System rocket on Thursday, a win for
the agency as it prepares to return to the Moon.

The second “hot fire” test saw all four of the rocket’s RS-25 engines fire
simultaneously at 4:40 pm Eastern time (2040 GMT) for the full duration of
eight minutes, producing a maximum of 1.6 million pounds of thrust (7.1
million newtons).

“The applause says a lot about how the team feels,” Bill Wrobel, an
official in charge of the test, said during a livestream after the control
room began clapping.

“Looks pretty good right now,” he added.