WASHINGTON, DC - NASA has selected the design of a new Space Launch System that will take the agency's astronauts farther into space than ever before, create high-quality jobs here at home, and provide the cornerstone for America's future human space exploration efforts.
WATCH FREE VIDEO ANIMATION OF SLS LIFTING OFF THE LAUNCH PAD • WATCH ON YOUTUBE ALL-ACCESS MEMBER VIDEO DOWNLOAD NASA'S SLS ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE • DOWNLOAD NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLIE BOLDEN'S STATEMENT • DOWNLOAD ALL-ACCESS MEMBER AUDIO DOWNLOAD LISTEN TO TODAY'S SLS PRESS TELECONFERENCE • DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM FUN FACTS • (PDF) This new heavy-lift rocket-in combination with a crew capsule already under development, increased support for the commercialization of astronaut travel to low Earth orbit, an extension of activities on the International Space Station until at least 2020, and a fresh focus on new technologies-is key to implementing the plan laid out by President Obama and Congress in the bipartisan 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which the president signed last year. The booster will be America's most powerful since the Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo astronauts to the moon and will launch humans to places no one has gone before. "This launch system will create good-paying American jobs, ensure continued U.S. leadership in space, and inspire millions around the world," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that's exactly what we are doing at NASA. While I was proud to fly on the space shuttle, tomorrow's explorers will now dream of one day walking on Mars." This launch vehicle decision is the culmination of a months-long, comprehensive review of potential designs to ensure the nation gets a rocket that is not only powerful but also evolvable so it can be adapted to different missions as opportunities arise and new technologies are developed. 
(Image above: Artist's depiction of the Space Launch System on the launch pad. Credit: NASA) "In combination with the crew capsule already under development, increased support for the commercialization of astronaut travel to low Earth orbit, an extension of activities on the International Space Station until at least 2020, and a fresh focus on new technologies - this rocket is key to implementing the plan laid out by President Obama and Congress in the bipartisan 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which the President signed last year. "This launch vehicle decision is the culmination of a months-long, comprehensive review of potential designs to ensure that the nation gets the best possible rocket for the investment - one that is not only powerful but is also evolvable so it can be adapted to different missions as opportunities arise and new technologies are developed." NASA had come under fire for perceived delays in announcing the chocie for a heavy-lift launch system. During the last few months, the agency had been accused of deliberate foot-dragging and cost inflation in an attempt to "sabotage" the new system - a launch capability NASA originally did not ask for and did not want. However, Bolden and NASA officials repeatedly stated that the delays were necessary in order to ensure that cost and schedule projections were realistic and that the NASA would be able to embark on a massive new launcher development program and avoid the kinds of failures that have plagued past efforts. "The selection of the vehicle needed to transport our astronauts beyond low Earth orbit is one of the most important decisions NASA will make this decade, and it requires a major commitment on the part of the American people. That's why we took the time to get it right," Bolden remarked. "Having settled on a new and powerful heavy-lift launch architecture, NASA can now move ahead with building that rocket and the next-generation vehicles and technologies needed for an ambitious program of crewed missions in deep space," said John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for Science and Technology. "I'm excited about NASA's new path forward and about its promise for continuing American leadership in human space exploration." “NASA’s design for a new launch system into space will lead to safer and more distant exploration than we’ve ever had before. I will follow closely NASA’s progress on this new launch system as well as future missions—missions to advance scientific discovery and pursue human exploration in a new and sustainable way,” said Rockefeller, Chairman of the Commerce Committee. “Our space leadership has led to major scientific successes and discoveries, and I anticipate NASA’s future to be a celebrated one—leading the way in research, creating new jobs and inspiring and educating our future generations of explorers." “The vehicle concept and design being formally announced today is consistent with the design and development approach that was directed by the NASA Authorization Act,” said Senator Hutchison, Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee. “Because of the delays in announcing this design, it is imperative that we work with NASA to assure that the new Space Launch System is pursued without further losses of time and efficiency, while relying on NASA’s world-class engineers and designers to continue U.S. leadership in space exploration.” “This is the biggest thing for space exploration in decades,” said Senator Bill Nelson, Chairman of the Science and Space Subcommittee. “The goal is to fly humans safely beyond low-Earth orbit and deep into outer space where we can not only survive, but one day also live.” “I am happy to have a path forward in the future of U.S. space exploration with the new launch system. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee as we continue to advance U.S. led efforts in this frontier. This decision provides some certainty for NASA employees as we work to retain the best and brightest workers who have the experience to take us further into space,” said Senator Boozman, Ranking Member of the Science and Space Subcommittee. “I am pleased to see NASA making progress on our next generation of space transportation that will send astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA. “I support the Space Launch System as part of NASA's balanced space program of human spaceflight, scientific exploration and discovery and technology development.” The SLS rocket will incorporate technological investments from the Space Shuttle Program and the Constellation Program in order to take advantage of proven hardware and cutting-edge tooling and manufacturing technology that will significantly reduce development and operations costs. It will use a liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propulsion system, which will include the RS-25D/E from the Space Shuttle Program for the core stage and the J-2X engine for the upper stage. 
(Image above: Artist's depiction of the Space Launch System moving to the launch pad. Credit: NASA) SLS will have an initial lift capacity of 70 metric tons. That's more than 154,000 pounds, or 77 tons, roughly the weight of 40 sport utility vehicles. The lift capacity will be evolvable to 130 metric tons -- more than 286,000 pounds, or 143 tons -- enough to lift 75 SUVs. The first developmental flight, or mission, is targeted for the end of 2017. Bill Gerstenmeier, NASA's Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations touted the new system as the largest rocket in history, even more powerful than the massive Apollo Saturn V rocket. The 70 ton version will have 8.4 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, or 10 percent more than the Saturn V. The behemoth follow-on SLS launcher will have 9.2 million pounds of earth-shaking thrust at liftoff - 20 percent more than the Saturn V and enough for missions to the Moon, asteroids and, eventually Mars. The decision to go with the same fuel system for the core and the upper stage was based on a NASA analysis demonstrating that use of common components can reduce costs and increase flexibility. 
(Image above: Artist's depiction - the Space Launch System blasts off. Credit: NASA) "NASA has been making steady progress toward realizing the president's goal of deep space exploration, while doing so in a more affordable way," NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said. "We have been driving down the costs on the Space Launch System and Orion contracts by adopting new ways of doing business and project hundreds of millions of dollars of savings each year." "ATK applauds NASA's decision to move forward with a Space Launch System for human deep space exploration," space shuttle solid rocket booster manufacturer Alliant Techsystems said in a written statement. "We are proud that NASA will utilize ATK's five-segment solid rocket motors as the baseline design for the initial flights. ATK's five-segment boosters provide unmatched capability and we will deliver this performance within the current budget. We are confident in the design and look forward to the early test flights to demonstrate our capability. We are also well positioned to compete for the final design because of our proven performance and a thrust-to-weight ratio of our solid rocket motors which are ideally suited for first stage propulsion." NASA elected to initiate a competition for the booster stage based on performance parameters rather than on the type of propellant because of the need for flexibility. The specific acquisition strategy for procuring the core stage, booster stage, and upper stage is being developed and will be announced at a later time.
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