advanced solar electric propulsion (SEP) for interplanetary cargo transportation
to in-space operations and deep-space habitation. New missions and activities
will become possible as NASA and its partners validate capabilities, address
Proving Ground objectives, and review the specific series of near-term
missions. Through these missions, we are moving toward Earth Independence
and progressing together on the journey to Mars.
A Robust Transportation Infrastructure: Ground Operations,
Orion, and SLS
NASA is developing a robust launch services capability, which not only
supports SLS and Orion, but can also be leveraged by a multitude of new
commercial launch providers. With commercial partners, the agency is
modernizing Launch Complex 39B, developing a mobile launcher, upgrading
control systems, and demonstrating ground processing capabilities to enable
Proving Ground missions, including the launch of SLS and Orion.
Orion is a launch, reentry, and in-space crew spacecraft designed to transport
a crew of four to deep space. During Proving Ground missions, Orion will
protect the crew during transport to cislunar space, sustain the crew for short
durations while in space, and enable safe reentry. For future missions, Orion
will provide transportation between Earth and the Mars transit systems located
in cislunar space. Orion’s first mission, Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1),
was successfully conducted in 2014, on a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle, and
generated a wealth of data to enable future human missions to deep space.
The Space Launch System is Orion’s ride to deep space. NASA is developing
an evolvable design for SLS that leverages previous launch system investments.
The initial “Block 1” SLS is designed to carry Orion, as well as cargo,
equipment, and science experiments to staging points in cislunar space. We are
well along the path to developing the Block 1 SLS, which uses an upper stage
derived from the Delta cryogenic second stage to launch 70 metric tons (mt) to
orbit. This initial version will use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propulsion
systems and solid rocket boosters, evolved from heritage systems. NASA plans
to upgrade the boosters and develop an advanced upper stage, the Exploration
Upper Stage (EUS), leading to the 105 mt Block 1B and the 130 mt Block 2
versions of the SLS. This payload capacity far exceeds the capability of current
and planned commercial launch vehicles. Development of Block 1B with the
EUS provides significant additional capability for Proving Ground missions,
allowing NASA to send the crewed Orion