When NASA’s new rocket launches in 2018, it will carry a vehicle designed for humans deeper into space than any crew capsule has ever traveled before.
What’s the new rocket? It’s called Space Launch System (SLS), currently in development. SLS is designed to be evolvable and support the needs of a variety of missions – both for humans and cargo.
And the new human-rated vehicle? The Orion crew capsule, which had a successful test flight in 2014.
The first launch is known as Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) and will carry 13 cubesats as secondary payloads in addition to Orion into deep space.
The second launch will be called EM-2 and feature an upgraded SLS. How will the second configuration be different than the first? It will have a new universal stage adapter and payload adapter. This configuration will also have an exploration upper stage.
SLS EM-2 configuration. Credit: NASA
A request for information (RFI) was released yesterday to gather ideas for potential co-manifested payloads. Where will these payloads be located? Inside the universal stage adapter below the Orion capsule and above the upper stage of SLS.
Industry, academia and international partners are all encouraged to respond to the RFI. It will help NASA plan for payloads that will be co-manifested on the rocket’s first flight with a crew.
How big are the payloads that NASA is looking for? The ideas submitted for a single large payload can be a maximum of 13,200 lbs. NASA is also soliciting ideas for smaller, stackable payloads which can each be a maximum of 661 lbs.
This second flight of SLS is targeted for 2021 and presents a unique opportunity for small payloads to travel deep into space.
With the unique opportunities that an evolvable and flexible launch vehicle provides, SLS is equipped to usher in an exciting beginning to the human exploring deep space, with the goal of eventually traveling to Mars.
Learn more about SLS at NASA.gov.