The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will proceed with a planned test fire of its SLS rocket this month. The rocket will be used for the Artemis I unmanned mission to the moon.

The rocket is part of NASA's new space launch system that will take its Orion spacecraft to the moon. NASA said it was close to completing the "green run" test for the rocket - described as the backbone of the entire launch.

NASA said it should conduct an eighth and last part of the test series as soon as Jan. 17.

"The upcoming hot fire test will fire all four of the stage's engines simultaneously for up to eight minutes to simulate the core stage's performance during launch," NASA said.

The administration's space launch system has experienced delays in development. However, NASA is banking on the vehicle for its plans to return to the moon. NASA's goal is to return to the moon by 2024.

Critics said NASA's plans may be too ambitious and some have called the agency's proposed launch date into question. Experts said the costs could derail it and the pandemic could cause setbacks to its schedule. Despite these doubts NASA remains positive.

The final green run test will take place at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. NASA said it had solved an unexpected issue with the vehicle that came to light in a previous test where a super cold liquid propellant was loaded and then drained from the rocket.

NASA said the cause was a timing issue. The agency said this had been corrected and added it wouldn't be a problem during the hot fire test.