“NASA’s Next Phase: Advancing the Space Launch System for Artemis Missions”
As NASA gears up for its inaugural crewed Artemis missions, the agency is laying the groundwork to construct, test, and integrate the next iteration of its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket.
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NASA
This enhanced version of the SLS, dubbed Block 1B, possesses greater size and power, enabling it to transport both crew members and substantial hardware to the Moon in a single launch. The Block 1B variant is slated to make its debut with the Artemis IV mission.
“From the outset, NASA’s Space Launch System was conceived to evolve into more potent crew and cargo configurations, furnishing a versatile platform as we endeavor to explore further reaches of our solar system,” remarked John Honeycutt, SLS Program manager. “Each incremental enhancement to the SLS engines, boosters, and upper stage builds upon the achievements of the Block 1 design, which first took flight with Artemis I in November 2022 and is set to do so again for the inaugural crewed missions with Artemis II and III.”
Initial manufacturing activities are already underway at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, while preparations for the green run test series for the upgraded upper stage are progressing at the nearby Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
The Block 1B variant introduces two significant evolutionary advancements to NASA’s workhorse rocket, enhancing its capabilities for future missions to the Moon and beyond. These include a more robust second stage and an adapter for accommodating large payloads, broadening the horizons for forthcoming Artemis endeavors.
“The Space Launch System Block 1B rocket will serve as the primary means of transporting astronauts to the Moon for the foreseeable future,” stated James Burnum, deputy manager of the NASA Block 1B Development Office. “We are building upon the SLS Block 1 design, along with the testing and flight experience gained, to develop safe, reliable transportation capable of delivering larger and heavier payloads to the Moon in a single launch compared to existing rockets.”
The interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), utilized in sending the first three Artemis missions to the Moon, will be replaced by a more substantial and potent four-engine stage known as the exploration upper stage (EUS). Among numerous enhancements, a different battery configuration will enable the EUS to sustain mission operations for up to eight hours following launch, compared to the current ICPS’s two-hour capability. All new hardware and software will undergo design and testing to meet the distinct performance and environmental requirements.
Another configuration change involves the implementation of a universal stage adapter to link the rocket with the Orion spacecraft.
