Engine testing for NASA’s new SLS megarocket ended early Saturday when the system’s computers shut down the engines automatically after just over a minute.
They were supposed to run for eight minutes to keep climbing the rocket into orbit.
The experiment took place at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
Engineers are now trying to find out exactly what went wrong and what caused the test to be stopped.
“I want to inspire people because the future is very bright, and we’re definitely going to learn a lot from this test,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told reporters.
“We’re going to learn a lot. Of course, we already know that we have learned a lot, going up to the point where we recognized the rockets we learned a lot. And so, this is a good day to think that this is a good day. And we test for a reason because we want to learn. And we’re going to keep learning. “
The SLS, or Space Launch System, is part of NASA ‘s Artemis program that aims to land the next and first woman on the moon by 2024.
It is run in collaboration with the EU’s European Space Agency which provides the ESM, or European Service Model.
It is possible that the SLS could make their first flight later this year. When it does it will become the most powerful rocket to ever go to space.