Our Progress and Plans on the
Journey to Mars
Evolution of the Nation’s Next Rocket
launch performance, Orion’s heat shield, and deep-space navigation. NASA
plans to develop the EUS for early exploration missions to cislunar space.
The EUS addition could provide SLS with a critical new capability for
crewed Orion missions by allowing secondary payloads to be co-manifested
within the EUS-to-Orion launch vehicle adapter. While the exact mass and
volume available for co-manifested payloads have not yet been determined,
payloads about the same length, twice the width, and one-third the mass of
a school bus could be launched to cislunar space with Orion. Co-manifested
payloads, potentially launched as early as Exploration Mission 2 (EM-2),
could include pressurized modules that extend the deep-space capabilities
of the Orion spacecraft and help develop a deep-space habitation capability.
Independent co-manifested payloads, such as robotic science missions, are
also possible.
Orion and SLS (with the EUS) provide the core transportation capabilities
that support Proving Ground missions and enable the journey to Mars.
Beyond EM-2, NASA is considering a wide range of activities that not only
demonstrate the ability to live and work in deep space, but also accomplish a
suite of Proving Ground objectives and validate key operational capabilities
required to become Earth Independent. While SLS and Orion flight rates
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