NASA Rolls Out Massive SLS Rocket for Final Prelaunch Testing

NASA is rolling out its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launch pad for the second time. SLS is the most powerful rocket ever built by the space agency. Once at the pad, SLS will conduct a propellant loading test, before returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building for final preparations ahead of the Artemis-1 launch.

[miroslavmilan]

Just a few years ago, we would have all found the way this rocket was built fascinating, and the way it rolled out amazing. Right now, I can’t stop thinking how ridiculously unnecessary is it to build and roll out a rocket together with its friggin’ launch tower, and then spend all day just to move it several miles and run some tests, on a specially built transporter that costs more in itself than a lot of rockets do. And to undergo all that effort and expense to deliver no new technology or groundbreaking functionality that wouldn’t be available otherwise.

[jaydonbooth]

I think the paint is worth its weight. White shuttle tank was just glorious. I had no problem with the orange as a kid, until I saw and learned they actually painted the first ones, those pics of STS-1 launching are so awesome and it looks so damn good. But I guess you gotta be practical, especially with how expensive shuttle was, and SLS is.

[danielthornton]

Great stream! Thank you NSF for all you do at all hours of the day and night! 🌙 🌞 🚀

[zapfanzapfan]

Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river pebbles... 🙂

[dgsindelar]

Great stream!! Chris G - you are the man!! I absolutely love listening to you wax on about things you know about. So full of knowledge and excitement. And you explain things in an informative way that really helps me understand things. LOVE IT :)

[roberthunt]

100% starting to think the only reason starship hasn't been approved for launch yet is because of the delays with SLS. If they have to roll back due to a malfunction I would put money on it that starship will be delayed again by the FAA

[fireflyf]

Are you sure about the SRB bolts being removed after the SLS is at the pad, at not by explosives just before SRB start like the shuttle? I know SLS shouldn't have the "twang" the shuttle had during main engine start, but even the force of the mains starting seems like some form of hold down system would be advisable. If nothing else, it would help with wind gusts.

Sidenote:
That Chandra launch was one of the most infamous in shuttle history. The actual launch was also fraught with problems, including the "gold bullet" from one of the disabled oxygen injectors that breached three of the hydrogen regen cooling lines in the nozzle. If 2 more had been ruptured, it's likely that would have resulted in a loss of vehicle.

[nicholasmaude]

Assuming the second WDR goes to plan with little or no problems IIRC won't NASA proceed to the launch countdown?

[ragaloft]

Great stream team! You're the best 📹🎤

[Sid-iukj]

Who else like me is predicting that a new problem will force them to roll it back again to the VAB soon 😑

[Roguescienceguy]

Back when I was young "roofies" were something totally different 🤣

[kimmonhollen]

Cris you rocked it. I love your passion and knowledge! Please do a video for kids!!!

[jonmarquez]

Well we all know even a snail cant move faster then the roller! 🐌 🐌 🐌

[aldunlop]

God SLS is painful. It’s like watching fucking grass grow. Christ in 1980, 40 years ago, they built the Space Shuttle, rolled it out and launched the fucking thing. The whole idea of SLS was it was supposed to be cheap and quick, because it’s based on Shuttle Tech! This just painful to watch, and criminally expense for US taxpayers. I’d love to see the cost/benefit analysis for this white elephant.

[phoenixrising]

So....when this one has a half dozen or more failures in orbit, are the contractor going to pay for a reflight at 4 billion+

[trope]

as a basic education graduate, i find it odd that all of you science/space guys, fail to tell the layman public that hydrogen is the smallest molecule on the modern periodic table! its the smallest and most abundant thing in the universe, not earth, but the universe(i hope im not wrong about that lol), thus when its in use, it is SUPER realistic to believe and conceive that it can escape even the smallest of spaces!

[stephensfarms]

This thing will never fly. Delays, delays.

[rory-red]

they still screwing around with the waste of money SLS as it a single use rocket.