Space Launch System: Difference between revisions

Space Launch System
	An artist's rendering of SLS Block 1 with Orion spacecraft on the pad before launch.
Function	Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
Country of origin	United States
Project cost	US$21.2 billion (as of 2021)
Cost per launch	Over US$2 billion excluding development (estimate);
Cost per year	US$2.5 billion for 2020
Size
Height	111.25 m (365.0 ft), Block 2 Cargo
Diameter	8.4 m (28 ft), Core Stage
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO[altitude and inclination needed]
Mass	Block 1: 95 t (209,000 lb) ; Block 1B: >100 t (220,000 lb); Block 2: 130 t (290,000 lb) ;
Payload to trans-lunar injection
Mass	Block 1: > 27 t (60,000 lb) ; Block 1B Crew: 38 t (83,700 lb); Block 1B Cargo: 42 t (92,500 lb); Block 2 Crew: > 43 t (94,700 lb); Block 2 Cargo: > 46 t (101,400 lb);
Associated rockets
Comparable	Energia; N1; Saturn V; SpaceX Starship; Space Shuttle;
Launch history
Status	Awaiting first launch
Launch sites	Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
First flight	NET January 2022
Type of passengers/cargo	Orion
No. boosters	2 five-segment Solid Rocket Boosters
Stage info
Boosters (Block 1, 1B)
No. boosters	2 five-segment Solid Rocket Boosters
Height	54 m (177 ft)
Gross mass	730 t (1,610,000 lb)
Powered by	off
Maximum thrust	14.6 MN (3,300,000 lbf) sea level; 16 MN (1,600 tf; 3,600,000 lbf) vacuum
Total thrust	29.2 MN (6,600,000 lbf) sea level; 32 MN (3,300 tf; 7,200,000 lbf) vacuum
Specific impulse	269 s (2.64 km/s)
Burn time	126 seconds
Propellant	PBAN, APCP
First stage (Block 1, 1B, 2) – Core stage
Height	65 m (212 ft)
Diameter	8.4 m (27.6 ft)
Empty mass	85 t (187,990 lb)
Gross mass	1,073 t (2,365,000 lb)
Powered by	4 RS-25D/E
Maximum thrust	9.1 MN (2,000,000 lbf) vacuum
Specific impulse	366 s (3.59 km/s) (sea level); 452 s (4.43 km/s)
Burn time	480 seconds
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
Second stage (Block 1) – ICPS
Height	13.7 m (45 ft)
Diameter	5 m (16 ft)
Empty mass	3,490 kg (7,690 lb)
Gross mass	32,066 kg (70,693 lb)
Powered by	1 RL10B-2
Maximum thrust	110.1 kN (24,800 lbf)
Specific impulse	465.5 s (4.565 km/s)
Burn time	1125 seconds
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
Second stage (Block 1B, Block 2) – Exploration Upper Stage
Height	17.3 m (57 ft)
Diameter	8.4 m (28 ft)
Powered by	4 RL10C-3, later 4 RL10C-X
Maximum thrust	407.2 kN (91,500 lbf)
Burn time	350 seconds (LEO ascent); 925 seconds (TLI burn);
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
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The Space Launch System (SLS) is an American super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, under development by NASA since 2011. It replaced the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, which were cancelled along with the rest of the Constellation program.^[29]^[30]^[31] Like those proposals, it is derived from the Space Shuttle.

The SLS is intended to become the primary launch vehicle of NASA's deep space exploration plans throughout the 2020s and beyond, with planned crewed lunar flights of the Artemis program and a possible follow-on human mission to Mars.^[32]^[33]^[34]^[35]^[36] The SLS is being developed in three major phases with increasing capabilities: Block 1, Block 1B, and Block 2.^[16] As of 22 December 2019^[update], SLS Block 1 launch vehicles are planned to launch the first three Artemis missions.^[37] After this point Block 1B will take over until the introduction of Block 2.^[38]^[36]^[39]

The SLS is planned to launch the Orion spacecraft as part of the Artemis program and use the ground operations and launch facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis will use one SLS each year until at least 2030.^[40] The rocket will use the Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. The first launch was originally scheduled for 2016,^[41] but it has slipped at least eight times, adding more than five years to the original six-year schedule.^{[note 2]} As of September 2021^[update], the first launch is scheduled for no earlier than January 2022.^[21]^[42]

Description

The SLS is a Space Shuttle-derived launch vehicle, with the first stage of the rocket being powered by one central Core Stage and two outboard solid rocket boosters (SRBs). All SLS Blocks share a common design for the Core Stage to avoid the need for redesigns to meet varying requirements.^[43]^[44]^[45]^[46] The SLS is designed to be able to tolerate up to 23 tanking cycles, 13 are reserved for launch attempts on Artemis 1. The assembled rocket is to be able to remain at the launch pad for at least 180 days and can remain in a stacked configuration for at least 200 days.^[47]^[48]

SLS Block Differences
Block	Boosters	Upper Stage
1	5-segment Shuttle-derived boosters	Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS)
1B	5-segment Shuttle-derived boosters	Exploration Upper Stage (EUS)
2	Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE)	Exploration Upper Stage (EUS)

Payload mass to...
SLS variants	Low Earth orbit (LEO)	Trans-lunar injection (TLI)	Heliocentric orbit (HCO)
Block 1	95 t^[16]	> 27 t^[49]	?
Block 1B	105 t^[50]	42 t^[49]	?
Block 2	130 t^[18]	> 46 t^[49]	45 t^[16]

Core Stage

The Core Stage is responsible for propelling the upper stage and payload out of the atmopshere with the assistance of the SRBs and accelerating up to almost orbital velocity. It contains the fuel and oxidizer tanks for the ascent phase, the forward and aft SRB attach points, avionics, and the Main Propulsion System (MPS). The MPS is responsible for supplying the four

oxidizer. The first four flights will each use and expend four of the remaining sixteen RS-25D engines that had previously flown on Space Shuttle missions.^[54]^[55] Aerojet Rocketdyne modified these engines with modernized engine controllers, higher throttle limits, as well as insulation for the high temperatures the engine section will experience from the SRBs.^[56] Later flights will switch to an expendable optimized RS-25 variant, lowering per engine costs by over 30%.^[57]^[58] Boeing manufactures the Core Stage at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.^[59]

Boosters

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_Launch_System&oldid=1048643057"

[altcost-14] This is for the Block 1 launch vehicle alone and does not include the Orion capsule or service module costs.^[13]

[slips-43] NASA has announced at least seven schedule slips: December 2016,^[41]^[29]^[158] October 2017,^[159] November 2018,^[160] 2019,^[161] June 2020,^[162] April 2021,^[163] November 2021,^[164]^[165] December 2021,^[42] and then to some time between January 2022 and March 2022.^[166]^[167]^[21]

[FY2021_SpendPlan-1] "Updated FY 2021 Spending Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 25 September 2021 suggested (help) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2020_SpendPlan-2] "Updated FY 2020 Spending Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2019_SpendPlan-3] "FY 2019 Spend Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2018_SpendPlan-4] "FY 2018 Operating Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2017_SpendPlan-5] "FY 2017 Operating Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2016_SpendPlan-6] "FY 2016 Operating Plan (Sept. 4 update)" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2015_SpendPlan-7] "FY 2015 Operating Plan Update (Aug. 2015)" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2014_SpendPlan-8] "FY 2014 Operating Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2013_SpendPlan-9] "FY 2013 Operating Plan" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2014_Request-10] "FY 2014 Complete Budget Estimates" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FY2013_Request-11] "FY 2013 Complete Budget Estimates" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[moneya-12] [1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

[doesnotdeny-13] Berger, Eric (8 November 2019). "NASA does not deny the "over US$2 billion" cost of a single SLS launch". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019. "The White House number appears to include both the "marginal" cost of building a single SLS rocket as well as the "fixed" costs of maintaining a standing army of thousands of employees and hundreds of suppliers across the country. Building a second SLS rocket each year would make the per-unit cost "significantly less". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[whitehouse-15] Vought, Russell T. "Letter to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee with respect to 10 of the FY 2020 annual appropriations bills" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019. estimated cost of over US$2 billion per launch for the SLS once development is complete This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[16] "White House warns Congress about Artemis funding". SpaceNews. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[NASA_2018_Update-17] Harbaugh, Jennifer (9 July 2018). "The Great Escape: SLS Provides Power for Missions to the Moon". NASA. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[SLSBoeingPresentation2021-18] "NASA's Space Launch System: Exploration, Science, Security" (PDF). The Boeing Company. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.

[creech-2014-19] Creech, Stephen (April 2014). "NASA's Space Launch System: A Capability for Deep Space Exploration" (PDF). NASA. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[SLS_Overview-20] Mohon, Lee (16 March 2015). "Space Launch System (SLS) Overview". NASA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[SLS_Lift_Capacity-21] "SLS Lift Capabilities and Configurations" (PDF). NASA. 29 April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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@@ Line 314: / Line 314: @@
 {{as of|2020}}, three SLS versions are planned: Block 1, Block 1B, and Block 2. Each will use the same Core Stage with four main engines, but Block 1B will feature the [[Exploration Upper Stage]] (EUS), and Block 2 will combine the EUS with upgraded boosters.<ref name="AuthAct10">{{cite web|url=http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Legislation&ContentRecord_id=8d7c1465-f852-4835-ba84-25faf56bbb36&ContentType_id=03ab50f5-55cd-4934-a074-d6928b9dd24c&Group_id=6eaa2a03-6e69-4e43-8597-bb12f4f5aede|work=Featured Legislation|title=The NASA Authorization Act of 2010|date=July 15, 2010 |publisher=U.S. Senate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410161657/https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Legislation&ContentRecord_id=8d7c1465-f852-4835-ba84-25faf56bbb36&ContentType_id=03ab50f5-55cd-4934-a074-d6928b9dd24c&Group_id=6eaa2a03-6e69-4e43-8597-bb12f4f5aede|archive-date=April 10, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2011}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name=slsfact-20171011/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/12957-nasa-giant-rocket-space-launch-system-infographic.html|title=Space Launch System: NASA's Giant Rocket Explained|author=Karl Tate|date=16 September 2011|publisher=Space.com|access-date=26 January 2012|archive-date=27 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127120812/http://www.space.com/12957-nasa-giant-rocket-space-launch-system-infographic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-November 2014, construction of the first Core Stage hardware began using a new welding system in the South Vertical Assembly Building at NASA's [[Michoud Assembly Facility]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/sls/14-171.html#.VGfrNb4_ypc|title=SLS Engine Section Barrel Hot off the Vertical Weld Center at Michoud|publisher=NASA|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-date=19 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119072126/http://www.nasa.gov/sls/14-171.html#.VGfrNb4_ypc|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Between 2015 and 2017, NASA test fired RS-25 engines in preparation for use on SLS.<ref name="NSFStennis012015">{{cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Lloyd|title=NASA conducts 13th test of Space Launch System RS-25 engine|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-centers/stennis-space-center/nasa-conducts-13th-test-space-launch-system-rs-25-engine/|publisher=SpaceflightInsider.com|date=25 March 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426153013/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-centers/stennis-space-center/nasa-conducts-13th-test-space-launch-system-rs-25-engine/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of late 2015, the SLS program was stated to have a 70% confidence level for the first crewed Orion flight by 2023,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/first-crewed-orion-mission-may-slip-to-2023/|title=First Crewed Orion Mission May Slip to 2023|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=September 16, 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=June 23, 2016|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930001748/https://spacenews.com/first-crewed-orion-mission-may-slip-to-2023/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/16/orion-spacecraft-may-not-fly-with-astronauts-until-2023/|title=Orion spacecraft may not fly with astronauts until 2023|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=September 16, 2015|website=spaceflightnow.com|access-date=June 23, 2016|archive-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701155403/https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/16/orion-spacecraft-may-not-fly-with-astronauts-until-2023/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/mikulski-deeply-troubled-by-nasas-budget-request-sls-wont-use-70-percent-jcl|title=Mikulski "Deeply Troubled" by NASA's Budget Request; SLS Won't Use 70 Percent JCL|last=Clark|first=Smith|date=May 1, 2014|website=spacepolicyonline.com|access-date=June 23, 2016|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805085633/http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/mikulski-deeply-troubled-by-nasas-budget-request-sls-wont-use-70-percent-jcl|url-status=live}}</ref> and {{asof|2020|lc=y}}, NASA is continuing to project a 2023 launch.<ref name="IG-20-018">{{cite web|url=https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-20-018.pdf|title=Report No. IG-20-018: NASA's Management of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program|work=Office of Inspector General (United States)|publisher=NASA|date=July 16, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719030636/https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-20-018.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
-A [[Test article (aerospace)|test article]] build for the Core Stage began on 5 January 2016 and was expected to be completed in late January 2016.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}<!-- Seriously? Did NASA/Boeing actually begin the build of a core stage and actually expect to complete it one month later??? Strong statements need strong sources --> Once completed the test article was to be sent to ensure structural integrity at [[Marshall Space Flight Center]].{{update after|2017}}<!-- so did this ever happen? --> A structural test article of the ICPS{{clarify|date=January 2021}} was delivered in 2015.<ref name="SlSUpdate2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/four-engines-attached-to-sls-core-stage-for-artemis-I-mission.html|title=All Four Engines Are Attached to the SLS Core Stage for Artemis I Mission|website=nasa.gov|access-date=2019-11-12|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112214328/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/four-engines-attached-to-sls-core-stage-for-artemis-I-mission.html|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> the Core Stage for [[Artemis 1]] completed the assembly in November 2019.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
+The Core Stage for the first SLS, built at [[Michoud Assembly Facility]], had all four engines attached in November 2019,<ref name="SlSUpdate2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/four-engines-attached-to-sls-core-stage-for-artemis-I-mission.html|title=All Four Engines Are Attached to the SLS Core Stage for Artemis I Mission|website=nasa.gov|access-date=2019-11-12|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112214328/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/four-engines-attached-to-sls-core-stage-for-artemis-I-mission.html|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>, and it was declared finished by NASA in December 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=NASA declares first SLS core stage complete |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/15/nasa-declares-first-sls-core-stage-complete/ |publisher=Spaceflight Now |access-date=7 October 2021 |date=15 December 2019}}</ref>
-The first Core Stage left Michoud for comprehensive testing at Stennis in January 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51048986|title=Nasa Moon rocket core leaves for testing|last=Rincon|first=Paul|date=2020-01-09|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109151551/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51048986|url-status=live}}</ref> The static firing test program at [[Stennis Space Center]], known as the Green Run, operated all the Core Stage systems simultaneously for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/boeing-nasa-sls-core-stage-green-run-campaign-stennis/|title=Boeing, NASA getting ready for SLS Core Stage Green Run campaign ahead of Stennis arrival|date=2019-12-14|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930001752/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/boeing-nasa-sls-core-stage-green-run-campaign-stennis/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2019/08/nasa-will-have-8-minute-hold-down-test-in-2020.html|title=NASA Will Have 8 Minute Hold Down Test in 2020|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802192558/https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2019/08/nasa-will-have-8-minute-hold-down-test-in-2020.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Test 7 (of 8), the wet dress rehearsal, was carried out in December 2020 and the fire (test 8) took place on 16 January 2021, but shut down earlier than expected,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Green Run hotfire test ends early|url=https://spacenews.com/green-run-hotfire-test-ends-early/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=17 January 2021|date=16 January 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003032149/https://spacenews.com/green-run-hotfire-test-ends-early/|url-status=live}}</ref> about 67 seconds in total rather than the desired eight minutes. The reason for the early shutdown was later reported to be because of conservative test commit criteria on the thrust vector control system, specific only for ground testing and not for flight. If this scenario occurred during a flight, the rocket would have continued to fly normally. There was no sign of damage to the Core Stage or the engines, contrary to initial concerns.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rincon|first1=Paul|title=SLS: Nasa finds cause of 'megarocket' test shutdown|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55727686|publisher=BBC News|access-date=20 January 2021|date=20 January 2021|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120041016/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55727686|url-status=live}}</ref> The second fire test was completed on 18 March 2021, with all 4 engines igniting, throttling down as expected to simulate in-flight conditions, and gimballing profiles.
+The first Core Stage left [[Michoud Assembly Facility]] for comprehensive testing at [[Stennis Space Center]] in January 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51048986|title=Nasa Moon rocket core leaves for testing|last=Rincon|first=Paul|date=2020-01-09|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109151551/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51048986|url-status=live}}</ref> The static firing test program at [[Stennis Space Center]], known as the Green Run, operated all the Core Stage systems simultaneously for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/boeing-nasa-sls-core-stage-green-run-campaign-stennis/|title=Boeing, NASA getting ready for SLS Core Stage Green Run campaign ahead of Stennis arrival|date=2019-12-14|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930001752/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/boeing-nasa-sls-core-stage-green-run-campaign-stennis/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2019/08/nasa-will-have-8-minute-hold-down-test-in-2020.html|title=NASA Will Have 8 Minute Hold Down Test in 2020|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802192558/https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2019/08/nasa-will-have-8-minute-hold-down-test-in-2020.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Test 7 (of 8), the wet dress rehearsal, was carried out in December 2020 and the fire (test 8) took place on 16 January 2021, but shut down earlier than expected,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Green Run hotfire test ends early|url=https://spacenews.com/green-run-hotfire-test-ends-early/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=17 January 2021|date=16 January 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003032149/https://spacenews.com/green-run-hotfire-test-ends-early/|url-status=live}}</ref> about 67 seconds in total rather than the desired eight minutes. The reason for the early shutdown was later reported to be because of conservative test commit criteria on the thrust vector control system, specific only for ground testing and not for flight. If this scenario occurred during a flight, the rocket would have continued to fly normally. There was no sign of damage to the Core Stage or the engines, contrary to initial concerns.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rincon|first1=Paul|title=SLS: Nasa finds cause of 'megarocket' test shutdown|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55727686|publisher=BBC News|access-date=20 January 2021|date=20 January 2021|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120041016/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55727686|url-status=live}}</ref> The second fire test was completed on 18 March 2021, with all 4 engines igniting, throttling down as expected to simulate in-flight conditions, and gimballing profiles.
 The Core Stage was shipped to [[Kennedy Space Center]] to be mated with the rest of the rocket for Artemis 1. It left Stennis on April 24 and arrived at Kennedy on April 27.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/space-launch-system-core-stage-arrives-at-the-kennedy-space-center|title=Space Launch System Core Stage Arrives at the Kennedy Space Center|first=Brian|last=Dunbar|date=29 April 2021|website=NASA|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507205846/http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/space-launch-system-core-stage-arrives-at-the-kennedy-space-center/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was refurbished there in preparation for stacking.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sloss|first=Philip|date=2021-05-20|title=SLS Core Stage thermal protection system refurbishment in work at Kennedy for Artemis 1|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/tps-repairs-core-stage-work-updatei/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=NASASpaceFlight.com|language=en-US|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526143900/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/tps-repairs-core-stage-work-updatei/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 June 2021, NASA announced the assembly of the first SLS rocket was completed at the Kennedy Space Center. The assembled SLS is planned to be used for the unmanned [[Artemis 1]] mission in 2022.<ref name="nsf-20210929" />

Fiscal year	Funding (millions)		Status
Fiscal year	Nominal	In US$2020^[96]	Status
2011	US$1,536.1	US$1,819.9	Actual^[11] (Formal SLS Program reporting excludes the Fiscal 2011 budget.)^[97]
2012	US$1,497.5	US$1,755.5	Actual^[10]
2013	US$1,414.9	US$1,634.1	Actual^[9]
2014	US$1,600.0	US$1,812.3	Actual^[8]
2015	US$1,678.6	US$1,863.8	Actual^[7]
2016	US$1,971.9	US$2,159.6	Actual^[6]
2017	US$2,127.1	US$2,286.8	Actual^[5]
2018	US$2,150.0	US$2,256.6	Actual^[4]
2019	US$2,144.0	US$2,199.9	Actual^[3]
2020	US$2,525.8	US$2,525.8	Enacted^[2]
2021	US$2,585.9	US$2,585.9	Enacted
2011–2020	Total: US$18,648	Total: US$20,314

Flight No.	Date, time (UTC)	Configuration	Payload	Orbit	Outcome
1	16 November 2022, 06:47^[172]	Block 1	ESM) ArgoMoon BioSentinel CuSP EQUULEUS LunaH-Map Lunar IceCube LunIR NEA Scout OMOTENASHI Team Miles	TLI	Success
1	Uncrewed maiden flight of the SLS, first operational flight of the Orion capsule. Carrying cubesats for ten missions in the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI), and three missions in the Cube Quest Challenge.^[173]^[174] The payloads were sent on a trans-lunar injection trajectory.^[175]^[176]
2	September 2025^[177]	Block 1 Crew	Artemis 2 (Orion and ESM)	TLI	Planned
2	Crewed lunar flyby.
3	September 2026^[177]	Block 1 Crew	Artemis 3 (Orion and ESM)	Selenocentric	Planned
3	Crewed lunar rendezvous and landing.^[178]
4	September 2028^[179]	Block 1B Crew^[180]	I-HAB	Selenocentric (NRHO)	Planned
4	Crewed mission to the International Habitation Module (I-HAB) to the Gateway, following by a crewed lunar landing.^[181]
5	March 2030^[182]	Block 1B Crew^[180]	ESPRIT	Selenocentric (NRHO)	Planned
5	Crewed mission to the ESPRIT module to the Gateway.^[183]

v t e Orbital launch systems developed in the United States
Active	Atlas V**^†† Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Minotaur I IV V C Pegasus XL RS1 ^† SLS Block 1 Vulcan Centaur
In development	Antares 330 Daytona I MLV New Glenn Neutron Nova Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Starship Terran R
Retired	Antares 110/120/130/230/230+^††† Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able Agena Centaur Conestoga Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" H-I* Juno I Juno II LauncherOne N-I * N-II * Pilot Rocket 3 Saturn I IB V Scout Space Shuttle SPARK Sparta Terran 1 Thor Able Ablestar Agena Burner Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Vanguard
* - Japanese projects using US rockets or stages ** - uses Russian engines ^† - never succeeded ^†† - no new orders accepted ^††† - used Ukrainian first stage

v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS ^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 7 7A 8 11 11H LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C Nuri OS-M1 ^† Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased RS1 ^† Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega original C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Ariane 6 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 12 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan ^† Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1 ^†
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol ^† indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)

Revision as of 05:26, 7 October 2021

Description

Core Stage

Boosters

Upper stages

Development

Funding

Budget

Per launch costs

Early Plans

SLS Construction History

Planned launches

Criticism

Gallery

See also

References

Notes

Citations

External links