Space Launch System (SLS)

Active

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Nov. 16, 2022

Description

The Space Launch System (SLS) is an American Space Shuttle-derived heavy expendable launch vehicle. It is part of NASA's deep space exploration plans including as the main launch vehicle of the Artemis program. SLS follows the cancellation of the Constellation program, and is to replace the retired Space Shuttle.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    111.0 m
  • Diameter
    8.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    8.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    2628.0 T
  • Thrust
    39000.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Space Launch System (SLS)
  • Family
  • Variant
    Block 1
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Space Launch System Block 1
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $2000000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    95000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Government
Acting Administrator: James Free
NASA 1958

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Upcoming Spaceflights


SLS Block 1 | Artemis II

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
TBD April, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

Artemis II is the first crewed mission as part of the Artemis program. Artemis II will send a crew of 4 - 3 Americans and 1 Canadian around the moon and return them back to Earth. The mission will test the core systems of NASA's Orion spacecraft including the critical life support system, among other systems which could not be tested during Artemis I due to the lack of crew onboard.

Lunar flyby
Explore Share

SLS Block 1 | Artemis III

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
TBD June, 2027
Status: To Be Determined
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


Explore Share

SLS Block 1 | Artemis I

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Nov. 16, 2022, 6:47 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Artemis I (previously Exploration Mission 1) is the first flight on Space Launch System and the second flight of Orion crew spacecraft. Mission is planned to be an uncrewed circumlunar flight.

Lunar Orbit
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Long March 6
Success
1 day, 1 hour ago
Tianping-3A-02
Launch Complex 16 - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Satellite be used as calibration target for ground based orbital objects surveillance services such as atmospheric space environment study and orbita…


Long March 2D
Success
2 days, 23 hours ago
4 x SatNet test satellites
Launch Area 4 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Officially described as "Satellite-Internet Technology Demonstration Satellites". Probable 4 test satellites for the Chinese state-owned LEO communic…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 2 hours ago
Fram2
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Fram2 is the world’s first astronaut mission to polar orbit. Named after the Norwegian polar research ship Fram, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will laun…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 8 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-80
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Spectrum
Failure
4 days, 17 hours ago
Maiden Flight
Orbital Launch Pad - Andøya Spaceport

First flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle.