NASA’s Testing Its Biggest Flame Thrower, Er, Rocket Ever

[Announcer] One.

Fire.

[Voiceover] (rocket engine fires) You're looking

at the most powerful rocket in the world.

NASA's so-called Space Launch System, or SLS.

Excuse me!

Thank you.

You're looking at the most powerful

rocket in the world.

NASA's so-called Space Launch System, or SLS.

It could also be considered

the biggest flamethrower in the world.

This puppy puts out 3.6 million pounds of thrust,

and measures half a football field long.

American football, of course.

And on Tuesday, NASA will put

the rocket to one of its final test.

Running through everything from avionics to navigation,

to performance at colder temperatures.

Here's the thing.

If humans are going to get their boots on Mars,

they're going to need an ultra-powerful rocket like this.

So if it all goes well,

the SLS will fire a spacecraft 40,000 miles

past the moon in 2018.

Though this will be an unmanned mission,

it'll be the farthest a spacecraft built for humans

has ever traveled from Earth.

And that's a big step to getting people to Mars one day.

Sure, Mars is millions upon millions of miles away,

not 40,000.

But hey, baby steps.