The SLS Saga: Overview of the Space Launch System
A Model of the Space Launch System (Courtesy of NASA)
“Space exploration is a force of nature unto itself that no other force in society can rival.”
For a little bit more than 30 years, the Space Shuttle—or formally, the Space Transportation System (“STS”)—had been the face of the American spaceflight program. While the July 21, 2011 landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis marked the program’s official end, the retirement of the Space Shuttle program had been in the works for many years and was a direct result of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
But, the retirement of the Space Shuttle program was never going to mark the end of America’s space-faring dreams. As the first nation to send humans to the moon, the United States was never going to withdraw from deep space exploration. Yet, NASA’s search for the deep space exploration successor to the Space Shuttle has been arduous, with many twists and turns caused by changing presidential administrations, political considerations, and private competition. And while this journey is still ongoing today, it appears that the Space Launch System (or “SLS” for short—a name that harkens back to the formal name of its Space Shuttle forebearer) will be NASA’s official answer to the development of a next generation deep space vehicle for the exploration of Mars and beyond.
As a first for #TheSpaceBar blog (and inspired by the Horizon Goal series by the Planetary Society), in a series of posts entitled “The SLS Saga,” I will explore the Space Launch System program: its beginnings, its specifications and objectives, its current status, and its future development. I hope this set of posts will act as a launching point for your continued exploration of space policy in America.
The SLS Saga
In the coming weeks and months, as new posts in the SLS Saga become available, this post will be updated with links to new content here.
Original Saga Content
Part One: Constellation by Another Name
In this Part One of the SLS Saga, we will explore the transition from the Space Shuttle to the start of the SLS program.
In this Part Two of the SLS Saga, we will explore SLS’s current configurations.
Part Three: The Moon as Proving Grounds
In this Part Three of the SLS Saga, we will explore SLS’s first few missions.
Part Four: The Mothership of the Swarm
In this Part Four of the SLS Saga, we will explore SLS EM-1’s CubeSat payloads.
Part Five: A Glimpse into the Future
In this Part Five, and final planned part, of the SLS Saga, we will explore SLS’s competition from the commercial sector and whether such competition will lead to its demise.
Saga Updates
The SLS Saga: 2018 Mid-Year Project Update
In this SLS Project Update, we will explore developments in ML2, Block 1, and EUS
The SLS Saga: 2019 Start of year Mini Project Update
A brief look at SLS core stage tests and the effect of the Government Shutdown
The SLS Saga: 2019 Summer Project Update
2019 Summer Update on the SLS Program: New Policies and Personnel Changes
The SLS Saga: 2020 Early Spring Project Update
2020 Early Spring Update on the SLS Program: Core Stage, FY 2020 Budget, and Related NASA Programs
The SLS Saga: 2020 Mid-Year Project Update
2020 Mid-Year Update on the SLS Program: Costs, Tests, and Tributes
The SLS Saga: 2021 Mid-Year Project Update
2021 Mid-Year Update on the SLS Program: Stacking, Testing, and more Review
The SLS Saga: 2022 Mid-Year Project Update
2022 Mid-Year Update on the SLS Program: Arrival, Costs, and Mission Changes
The SLS Saga: 2023 Project Update
2023 Update on the SLS Program: Affordability, Engines, and Artemis II
2024 Update on the SLS Program: Lots of Challenges
Special Coverage
The SLS Saga: The Inaugural Launch
August 2022: Special Edition for SLS’s First Mission
Resources
The Decision to Retire the Space Shuttle: http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1887/1
The Horizon Goal Series: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/horizon-goal.html
