SCI/TECH: Shuttle Engines Reach for Million Second Milestone

Back in the 70's when the space shuttle was designed, engineers would have said it was impossible to achieve this goal.
"It's a significant achievement in the world of aerospace propulsion."

...all eyes will be on Stennis today as more than 200 VIPs and thousands of spectators are expected to be on hand for the 520-second test -- the duration of a shuttle launch to orbit -- which is to begin at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT).

Precisely 294 seconds into the test -- six seconds shy of five minutes -- the million second mark will be reached.

That's the equivalent of launching 641 shuttle missions (only 113 have been launched so far).

Or think of it this way: one million seconds is the same as 11.57 days. So if you were to drive non-stop at 70 mph, you could travel 19,460 miles in that time, which is about the same as driving around the Moon's equator three times, circling Mars a little more than once and making it four-fifths around the Earth.

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