NASA chief says he’s “very confident” in a 2021 launch date for SLS, but…

Four reusable RS-25 engines will power NASA's SLS rocket as it ascends into space, and then they'll be discarded. (credit: NASA)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Friday he is "very confident" in a potential November 2021 launch for the large Space Launch System rocket.

While expressing confidence in this date, however, Bridenstine added that there are uncertainties between now and then. One is technical-the core stage of the SLS rocket must undergo a series of tests this summer and autumn before it moves to the launch pad. The second issue is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is spiking around several NASA centers.

Green Run test

In January, NASA and the contractor for the SLS rocket's core stage, Boeing, moved the vehicle to Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi. Since then, workers have been putting the stage-which consists of four space shuttle main engines and very large tanks to store liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants-through a series of tests.

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