For the first time , Nasa has tested one of the explosively powerful boosters that will help its Space Launch System rocket reach space in 2019 , and eventually take humans to Mars . The 126-second static-fire test took place in Utah today at 11:30am EDT ( 3:30pm GMT ) . Temperatures reached 2,500°C ( 4,500°F ) - enough to melt sand on the site into glass - as 3.6 million pounds of thrust poured out of the engine . Scroll down for video . Nasa has tested one of the boosters for the Space Launch System in Utah . That static-fire test ( seen in the animation above ) took place at 3:30pm GMT and lasted 126 seconds . The 3.6 million pounds of thrust produced temperatures of 2,500°C . When SLS eventually flies , two of these boosters will be used . This was the first test of the redesigned booster for SLS . When it ultimately flies , it will use two of these Solid Rocket Boosters ( SRB ) . There will be two versions of the rocket . The smaller , 70-metric-ton SLS will stand 321ft ( 98 metres ) tall , provide 8.4 million pounds of thrust at liftoff , weigh 5.5 million pounds and carry 154,000 pounds of payload . The massive 130-metric-ton-configuration will be the most capable , powerful launch vehicle in history . Towering a staggering 384ft ( 117 metres ) tall , it will provide 9.2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and weigh 6.5 million pounds . It will be able to carry payloads weighing 286,000 pounds to orbit . In its final configuration the SLS will be the most powerful rocket ever launched , more powerful even than the Saturn V rocket that took men to the moon . During the test , flames exited the nozzle at about Mach 3 . The booster itself is an upgraded version of the same one that took the Space Shuttle into orbit , but it has an additional section to allow more fuel , and thus more power , to be added . Known as Qualification Motor 1 , the booster spent several days inside a chamber as it was heated up to a core temperature of 32°C ( 90°F ) . It measures 117 ft ( 54 metres ) in length , 12.2ft ( 3.7 metres ) in diameter and has a total mass of around 725 metric tons . The rocket is seen left getting ready to fire its engine , before it kicks in to gear ( right ) , providing nearby spectators with an incredible view for two minutes . The booster is an upgraded version of the same one that took the Space Shuttle into orbit , but it has an additional section to allow more fuel , and thus more power , to be added . Known as Qualification Motor 1 , the booster ( shown ) spent several days inside a chamber as it was heated up to a core temperature of 32°C ( 90°F ) . It measures 117 ft ( 54 metres ) in length , 12.2ft ( 3.7 metres ) in diameter and has a total mass of around 725 metric tons . Shown are engineers at Orbital ATK preparing to test the largest , most powerful booster ever built for Nasa 's new rocket , the Space Launch System ( SLS ) , which fired up for a ground test today at Orbital ATK Propulsion Systems ’ test facilities in Promontory , Utah . The test was run by Nasa in tandem with the rocket propulsion company Orbital ATK . Former astronaut and vice president for Advanced Strategic Programs at ATK Charles Precourt said after the event that it was a ‘ really nice result ’ . He added : ‘ It looked really clean and was very exciting . You could see the pressure coming off the motor. ’ Nasa 's booster manager Alex Priskos added : 'We could n't be happier with what we know so far . Today was about as successful as you can get ' Towering a staggering 384ft ( 117 metres ) tall , the Space Launch System ( SLS ) will provide 9.2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and weigh 6.5 million pounds when it eventually takes flight . It will be used to take astronauts to Mars sometime in the 2030s , with Nasa ’ s Orion spacecraft being carried on top . Towering a staggering 384 feet tall , the Space Launch System ( SLS ) will provide 9.2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and weigh 6.5 million pounds when it eventually takes flight . It will be used to take astronauts to Mars sometime in the 2030s , with Nasa ’ s Orion spacecraft being carried on top ( illustration shown )
Nasa has tested one of the boosters for the Space Launch System in Utah . That static-fire test took place at 3:30pm GMT and lasted 126 seconds . The 3.6 million pounds of thrust produced temperatures of 2,500°C . When SLS eventually flies , two of these boosters will be used . The rocket is being designed to take astronauts to Mars in the 2030s .