NASA Tests SLS Rocket in Preparation for First Manned Mission to the Moon in 50 Years

The American space agency NASA announced the successful launch test of its giant "SLS" rocket, which will carry astronauts to lunar orbit on the Artemis 2 mission, for the first time in over half a century.

A previous attempt at the test was halted in early February due to technical issues, including a liquid hydrogen leak, which delayed the mission launch to March 6 at the earliest.

NASA officials explained that the latest test was conducted entirely according to plan, concluding at the countdown 29 seconds before launch, in a realistic trial involving full fuel tanks and precise technical checks.

The experiment took place at Cape Canaveral in Florida, where engineers practiced all the maneuvers required for an actual launch.

NASA is expected to announce the final launch date for the Artemis 2 mission soon, which will involve four astronauts, including three Americans and one Canadian, in the first manned mission to orbit the moon in over 50 years.

This event is considered a historic step in resuming manned flights to the moon, bringing humanity back to the era of deep space exploration after decades of absence.