Space Launch System

Space Launch System
source
Name	Space Launch System
Caption	The Artemis 1 mission Space Launch System on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.
Function	Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	NASA (lead), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance, Aerojet Rocketdyne
Country-origin	United States
Height	322, ft, m
Diameter	27.6, ft, m
Mass	5.75, e6, lb, kg
Capacity	95, t, lb to low Earth orbit
Status	Active
First	Artemis 1 (16 November 2022)
Last	Artemis 1 (16 November 2022)

Space Launch System. It is a NASA-administered super heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to enable human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Developed with primary contractors including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, it forms the backbone of the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon. The vehicle's design leverages legacy technology from the Space Shuttle program and the cancelled Constellation program, aiming for unprecedented payload capacity.

Development history

The genesis of the program can be traced to congressional mandates in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which directed the agency to develop a Space Shuttle-derived heavy-lift vehicle. This decision followed the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet and the cancellation of the Constellation program's Ares V rocket. Formal announcement of the design occurred in September 2011, with the Michoud Assembly Facility and Stennis Space Center serving as critical manufacturing and testing sites. Key milestones included the completion of core stage testing at Stennis Space Center and the stacking of the first vehicle inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. The development faced significant scrutiny over schedule delays and rising costs, drawing comparisons to earlier programs like the Saturn V.

Design and specifications

The vehicle uses a stage-and-a-half design with a central core stage powered by four RS-25 engines, previously used on the Space Shuttle. Two Solid Rocket Boosters, derived from the Space Shuttle system and built by Northrop Grumman, provide the majority of liftoff thrust. The upper stage, known as the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage for initial flights, is a derivative of the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage used on the Delta IV rocket. The Orion spacecraft is launched atop the vehicle, protected by a Launch Abort System. The Block 1 configuration can deliver over to low Earth orbit and to trans-lunar injection, with future Block 1B and Block 2 variants planned for greater capability.

Missions and flight history

The inaugural uncrewed test flight, Artemis 1, launched successfully from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on 16 November 2022. This mission sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a multi-week journey around the Moon, validating the integrated system's performance. The flight marked the first time a human-rated spacecraft had traveled to the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The next scheduled mission, Artemis 2, will be a crewed lunar flyby, carrying astronauts from NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. Subsequent missions, including Artemis 3, are planned to achieve a lunar landing near the lunar south pole.

Program cost and economic impact

The program has been one of NASA's most expensive development projects, with estimates of over $23 billion spent through the first Artemis 1 launch. These figures have been frequently cited by oversight bodies like the NASA Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. The program sustains a substantial industrial base across the United States, with major manufacturing occurring at the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana and engine testing at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Contracts with major aerospace firms such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne support thousands of jobs, creating a significant economic footprint in states including Alabama, Florida, and California.

Future developments and variants

Planned evolutionary variants aim to significantly increase payload capacity and mission flexibility. The Block 1B configuration will introduce the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage, replacing the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, to enable the launch of co-manifested payloads alongside the Orion spacecraft. The Block 2 variant is designed to feature advanced boosters, potentially competing with or surpassing the lift capability of the historic Saturn V. These upgrades are critical for supporting sustained lunar operations under the Artemis program and potential future missions to destinations like Mars. The program's evolution remains closely tied to congressional funding and the strategic goals outlined by NASA and the White House.

Category:NASA launch vehicles Category:Super heavy-lift launch vehicles Category:Artemis program Category:Kennedy Space Center