Space Launch System
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2025
First Flight : November 16, 2022
Total Production : 5
Total Cost : USD $56 billion
The NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) is a deep space exploration initiative aimed at developing a family of modular heavy-lift launch vehicles to transport spaceships and equipment. The SLS program has been designed to replace the failed Ares I and Ares V space rockets while delivering a more affordable and sustainable launch vehicles. The SLS rocket will incorporate technological investments from the Space Shuttle Program and the Constellation Program in order to take advantage of proven hardware and cutting-edge tooling and manufacturing technology that will significantly reduce development and operations costs. The core stage utilizes three to five RS-25D/E rocket engines that burns a mixture of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The J-2X rocket engine using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen has been selected for the upper stage. Besides, SLS will also use solid rocket boosters and follow-on boosters based on performance requirements.
The first development flight is targeted for the end of 2017. The new exploration-class vehicle since the Saturn V that took the United States of America to the Moon should be operational by 2018. SLS should expand NASA's reach in the solar system and allow to explore the space around the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, Mars and its moons and beyond. Its modular architecture is aimed to configure each launch vehicle for specific mission needs using a variation of common elements to achieve a variety of payload volumes and weights.
| Model | Status | Year | Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLS Initial Lift Capability | Under Development | 2025 | 5 |
| SLS Evolved Lift Capability | Under Development | 2031 | ? |
SLS Initial Lift Capability
Group : Space Launch Systems
Status : Under Development
Also Known As : SLS Block 1, SLS Block 1B
Origin : 
United States of America
Contractors : Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2025
First Flight : November 16, 2022
Total Production : 5
Development Cost : USD $41 billion
Unitary Cost : USD $3 billion
The SLS Initial Lift Capability will be designed to carry the Orion Multi-purpose crew vehicle, as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments to Earth's orbit and support deep space exploration. Besides, the SLS will serve as backup system for transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS). It has a lift capacity for 70 metric tons or 77 tons. The SLS Initial Lift Capability features a core stage, interstage and the Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle along with the Launch Abort System (ALS). The core stage uses RS-25D/E rocket engines derived from the Space Shuttle Main Engines along with two solid rocket boosters (SRBs). At liftoff the rocket has 10 percent more thrust than the Saturn V heavy launch vehicle. The program was delayed with the first launch expected in 2020 but finally to be carried out on November 16 2022. The Artemis I mission landed in the Pacific Ocean on December 11, 2022.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America | Planned | 5 |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of Stages | 1 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Height | 98 meter | |
| Rocket Diameter | 8.4 meter | |
| Mass | ||
| Max Lift-off Thrust | 39,100 kN | |
| Max Lift-off Weight | 2,495 ton | |
| Payload to LEO | 105 ton | |
| Payload to Moon | 38 ton | |
| Volume | ||
| Payload Capacity | 70 metric ton | |
Gear
| Rocket Engines | ||
|---|---|---|
| RS-25D/E | 5 | |
| Solid Rocket Booster | 2 | |
| Spaceships | ||
| Orion | 1 | |
Listing
| Spacecraft | Status | Com | Decom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artemis I |
Decommissioned | November 16, 2022 | December 11, 2022 |
| Artemis II |
Planned | September 2025 | |
| Artemis III |
Planned | September 2026 | |
| Artemis IV |
Planned | September 2028 | |
| Artemis V |
Planned | September 2029 |
SLS Evolved Lift Capability
Group : Space Launch Systems
Status : Under Development
Also Known As : SLS Block 2
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2031
First Flight : 2030
Total Production : ?
Unitary Cost : USD $5 billion
The SLS Evolved Lift Capability will be designed to carry bulky and heavyweight payloads, as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments to Earth's orbit and support deep space exploration. Besides, the SLS will serve as backup system for transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS). It has a lift capacity for 130 metric tons or 143 tons. The SLS Evolved Lift Capability features a core stage, upper stage and the cargo fairing. The core stage uses RS-25D/E rocket engines derived from the Space Shuttle Main Engines along with two solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The upper stage is equipped with the J-2X rocket engine. At liftoff the rocket has 20 percent more thrust than the Saturn V heavy launch vehicle. The program was delayed with the first launch expected in 2020. As of 2024, the first launch is planned for 2030 or later.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America | Planned | ? |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of Stages | 2 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Height | 111 meter | |
| Rocket Diameter | 8.4 meter | |
| Mass | ||
| Max Lift-off Thrust | 4,173 ton | |
| Max Lift-off Weight | 2,948 ton | |
| Payload to LEO | 130 ton | |
| Payload to Moon | 46 ton | |
| Volume | ||
| Payload Capacity | 130 metric ton | |
Gear
| Rocket Engines | ||
|---|---|---|
| J-2X | ||
| RS-25D/E | 2 | |
| Solid Rocket Booster | 2 | |
News
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Photo Gallery
March 2021
SLS during hot fire test in March 2021
September 2011
NASA's SLS Initial Lift Capability at liftoff
Notes
State Latest Known holdings/Original Procurement
Com - Date of Commissioning
Decom - Date of Decommissioning
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