SLS rocket

US, NASA

Description:

Evolution of the SLS. Credit: NASA.
  • The Space Launch System (SLS) is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by NASA to support deep space exploration, including crewed missions to the Moon and eventual missions to Mars. It is designed to be the most powerful rocket ever flown by NASA, capable of sending the Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and large cargo directly to the Moon on a single launch.

Technical Data:

Manufacturer: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance
Function: Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
Height: 98 m
Diameter: 8,4 m
Mass: 2,610,000 kg
Stages: 2 1/2
Max thrust: 39 MN
Payload to LEO:
Altitude: 28.5°
Mass: 95,000 kg
Payload to TLI:
Mass: 27,000 kg
Boosters: five-segment SRB
Height: 54 m
Diameter: 3.7 m
Gross mass: 730,000 kg
Max thrust: SL: 14.6 MN
vac: 16MN
Total thrust/th> SL: 29.2 MN
vac: 32 MN
Specific impulse: 269 s (2.64 km/s)
Burn time: 126 sec
Propellant: APCP (AI/AP/PBAN)
First stage - Core
Height 64.6 m
Diameter 8.4 m
Empty mass 97,940 kg
Gross mass 1,085,410 kg
Propellant mass LH2: 144,000 kg
LOX: 840,000 kg
Powered by 4x RS-25
Max thrust SL: 7.4 MN
vac: 9.1 MN
Specific impulse SL: 366 s
vac: 452 s
Burn time 480 sec
Propellant LH2 / LOX
Second stage ICPS
Height 13.7 m
Diameter LH2 tank: 5 m
LOX tank: 3.2 m
Empty mass 3,490 kg
Gross mass 32,066 kg
Powered by 1x RL10
Max thrust 110.1 kN
Specific impulse 465.5 s
Burn time 1,125 sec
Propellant LH2/LOX
First Flight
Last Flight
Total Flights
Fastest Flight
Highest Flight

The SLS core stage rolling out of the Michoud Assembly Facility.

SLS of Artemis I on the launch pad with the Full Moon.

SLS launches:

Type Launches Periode Status
Sub Orb F Total
SLS (Block 1): - 1 - 1 16 Nov 2022 Active
Total: - 1 - 1 - -

Note:

- Sub= Suborbital, Orb= Orbital, F= Failure
- Status on 31 July 2025.

Launch List:

Type Nr Launch Vehicle Serial Nr Launch Date L.Time L. Site ID Year Payload Comment