[meteorite-list] NASA Announces Design For New Deep Space Exploration System

[Ron Baalke]

Sept. 14, 2011

David S. Weaver 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1600 
david.s.weaver at nasa.gov 

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1979/5241 
michael.j.braukus at nasa.gov/j.d.harrington at nasa.gov   


RELEASE: 11-301

NASA ANNOUNCES DESIGN FOR NEW DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEM

New Heavy-lift Rocket Will Take Humans Far Beyond Earth 

WASHINGTON -- 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. 

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. 

"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." 

The SLS will carry human crews beyond low Earth orbit in a capsule 
named the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. The rocket will use a 
liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel system, where RS-25D/E engines 
will provide the core propulsion and the J2X engine is planned for 
use in the upper stage. There will be a competition to develop the 
boosters based on performance requirements. 

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. The 
heavy-lift rocket's early flights will be capable of lifting 70-100 
metric tons before evolving to a lift capacity of 130 metric tons. 

The early developmental flights may take advantage of existing solid 
boosters and other existing hardware. These flights will enable NASA 
to reduce developmental risk, drive innovation within the agency and 
private industry, and accomplish early exploration objectives. 

"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." 

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. 

To learn more about the development of the SLS, visit: 

http://go.nasa.gov/newlaunchsystem   

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration   

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