Journey to Mars: NASA invites media, social media to June deep space rocket booster test

New Delhi: NASA is inviting media and social media followers to watch as it tests the largest, most powerful booster, the agency's new deep space rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), on June 28.

The test meant to help NASA in its journey to Mars will be conducted at Orbital ATK Aerospace System's test facility in Promontory, Utah.

The space agency says social media followers can apply for credentials to attend the booster test firing as part of a NASA Social event. A maximum of 45 participants will be selected to attend events on June 27, which include tours of the Orbital ATK facilities and opportunities for interviews with NASA and Orbital ATK officials. Participants also will have the opportunity to view, and feel, the powerful test firing on June 28.

To attend the event, social media followers can apply at:

http://www.nasa.gov/social/qm2_social

Also, members of the US media interested in covering the June 27 events and June 28 test can request credentials by contacting Orbital ATK's Kay Anderson at 435-230-2787 or kay.anderson@orbitalatk.com.

This is the second two-minute, full-duration qualification test for the booster, and will provide NASA with critical data to support booster qualification for flight. It also will be the last time the booster is fired in a test environment before the first flight of SLS and Orion in 2018.

SLS and NASA’s Orion spacecraft will launch astronauts on missions to explore multiple destinations on the journey to Mars.

(Source: NASA)