
NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) is a super heavy-lift rocket that provides the foundation for human exploration beyond Earth orbit. With its unprecedented capabilities, SLS is the only rocket that can send NASA’s Orion spacecraft, four astronauts, and large cargo directly to the Moon on a single mission. Offering more payload mass, volume, and departure energy than any other single rocket, SLS can support a range of mission objectives, while reducing mission complexity. The SLS rocket is designed to be evolvable, which makes it possible to increase its capability to fly more types of missions, including human missions to the Moon and Mars and robotic scientific missions to the Moon, Mars, and the outer planets. On Nov. 16, 2022, SLS took to the sky from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, making history as the most powerful rocket NASA has ever launched. The successful Artemis I mission ushered in a new era of exploration, as NASA prepares to send astronauts to the Moon as a prelude to human exploration of Mars. Post-flight data reviews determined that SLS met or exceeded performance expectations, and the rocket is ready to support a crewed flight on Artemis II and future crewed missions. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. The Power to Explore Beyond Earth’s Orbit To fulfill America’s future needs for deep space missions, SLS will evolve into increasingly more powerful configurations. Hardware is currently in production for the next four SLS flights, and development is underway on the more powerful Block 1B and Block 2 variants that will succeed the current Block 1 variant. SLS is designed for deep space missions and will send Orion or other cargo to the Moon, which is nearly 1,000 times farther than where NASA’s International Space Station resides in low Earth orbit. The high-performance rocket provides the power to help Orion reach a speed of 24,500 mph—the speed needed to send it to the Moon. Every SLS configuration uses the core stage with four RS-25 engines. The first SLS variant, called Block 1, can send more than 27 metric tons (t) or 59,500 pounds (lbs.) to the Moon. It is powered by twin five-segment solid rocket boosters in addition to the four RS-25 liquid propellant engines. After reaching space, the ICPS (interim cryogenic propulsion stage) helps send Orion on to the Moon. Like Artemis I, the SLS rockets that will power Artemis II and III will use the Block 1 configuration. Expanded illustration of Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B. The Block 1B crew vehicle will use a new, more powerful EUS (exploration upper stage) to enable more ambitious missions beginning with Artemis IV. The Block 1B rocket can, in a single launch, carry the Orion spacecraft along with large cargos needed to support a long-term presence

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