ScienceDaily (Sep. 12, 2012) — NASA is powering ahead toward new destinations in the solar system. This week marks one year of progress since the formation of the Space Launch System (SLS), the United States' next step in human exploration efforts.
On Sept. 14, 2011, NASA announced a new capability for America's
space program: a heavy-lift rocket designed to carry the Orion
spacecraft and send astronauts farther into space than ever before. And
now, one year later, NASA has made swift progress improving on existing
hardware, testing and developing new components, and paving the way for a
new launch vehicle. The SLS will make human exploration of deep space a
reality and create new possibilities for scientific discovery."The SLS is a national capability and will be the largest rocket ever built, providing the power we need to truly explore beyond our current limits,"
"The SLS is a national capability and will be the largest rocket ever
built, providing the power we need to truly explore beyond our current
limits,"said Todd May, Space Launch System program manager. "Not only
will it take us beyond low Earth orbit, but it will take us there
faster."
NASA's SLS team began work immediately after the 2011 announcement,
finding new methods of creating designs, conducting reviews and
improving scheduling and budget planning.
Watch NASA's video on the first year of SLS achievements:
"Our goal was to become a leaner and more efficient program, based on
lessons learned from previous successes by the agency," May said. "But
even more important is to build a safe vehicle for our astronauts and
one that can sustain exploration for years to come. That takes time and
we're off to a great start. We want to inspire the next generation of
scientists, engineers and explorers."
The SLS initially will be capable of carrying 70 metric tons to
space. A larger, future version of the rocket will launch up to 130
metric tons -- equivalent to about 75 sport utility vehicles -- to
future destinations such as an asteroid, near-lunar space and,
eventually, Mars.
View concept images of SLS configurations:
NASA is working with partners in industry to construct a robust
rocket and build off of existing elements and proven propulsion,
including more robust solid rocket booster designs and main engines used
during the Space Shuttle Program.
Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif., which manufactured
the RS-25 engines used during the shuttle era, is updating flight
computer hardware and software to bring the engine technology into the
21st century. A new five-segment booster has been tested three times.
ATK, of Promontory, Utah, will test a flight-qualified booster next
year.
NASA is relying on the expertise at the Boeing Co. of Huntsville,
Ala., to build the SLS core stage at the agency's Michoud Assembly
Facility in New Orleans, where more than a hundred external tanks were
built for the shuttle program. Early welding is paving the way for
building the tanks and infrastructure to the SLS's J-2X and RS-25
engines.
Although swift progress is under way on the 70-metric-ton initial
configuration, the program created an advanced development team to look
for ways to enhance and upgrade future designs of the heavy-lift
vehicle, including more powerful advanced boosters.
NASA is performing a battery of tests on the J-2X engine its Stennis
Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Some test firings this past year
broke duration records and pushed the new engine design to its limits.
The J-2X will power the upper stage of the rocket.
The program also reached a critical milestone earlier this summer
with agency-level approval of the system requirements and system
definition review. Guiding the course of the program, this key step was a
pivotal moment. It allowed SLS to move from concept to design and
target preliminary design review next year.
As the vehicle comes together, SLS, managed at NASA's Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is working closely with the Orion
Program at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Ground
Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. The launch facilities include a mobile launcher and a
new firing room for the SLS.
The Orion Program continues improvements of the spacecraft, using water landing tests and parachute drop tests to expand confidence in the design. Meanwhile, the ground crew at Kennedy is processing an Orion test module for its first flight in 2014 -- just a few years before SLS will take its place on the launch pad.
When Orion flies for the first time, SLS also will test the
spacecraft payload integration adapter ring. Engineers and machinists at
Marshall are building this section of the rocket, which will mate the
spacecraft to the Delta IV stand-in for SLS during Orion's test flight
in 2014 and the rest of the Space Launch System in 2017. The adapter
ring was designed for both applications as an example of NASA's
commitment to affordable solutions for the human exploration of space.
"Each decision made in support of SLS has been carefully considered,"
May said. "We're moving forward with our eyes on deep space,
contributing critical technology and functional knowledge to meet our
nation's exploration goals. At the same time, we realize how lucky we
are to write the next chapter in space exploration and hopefully inspire
future generations."
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