SLS

The most powerful rocket in the world, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) successfully lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 1:47am EST this Wednesday. It proceeded to carry the uncrewed Orion spacecraft into orbit, as part of the Artemis I mission.

It's another return to the drawing board for NASA scientists and engineers working on the Artemis I mission, which was due to lift off on Saturday until a hydrogen leak led to a last-minute scrubbing.

NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft exited the vehicle assembly building today after clearing some final tests and checks, en route to the launchpad for a maiden, uncrewed journey around the Moon.

After wrapping up testing of its next-generation Space Launch System last month, NASA has now announced a series of launch windows in which it could take off for the first time – which could come as soon as next month if things run smoothly.

NASA has released an updated outline of its Artemis program to return US astronauts to the Moon and set up a permanent human presence there, beginning with the landing of the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024.

Engineers have mated the fourth and final Space Shuttle-era engine to the core stage of NASA’s first Space Launch System Moon rocket. NASA hopes to use the super heavy launch vehicle to return astronauts to the Moon before striking out for Mars.

NASA has awarded Boeing a contract to provide 10 more core stages for its Space Launch System, an agreement that also includes a provision for up to eight Exploration Upper Stages for Artemis missions three through 12.

NASA has decided to put a major component of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through a “Green Run,” which will include an eight-minute engine burn, in the runup to the scheduled 2021 launch of the Artemis 1 lunar mission.

NASA has carried out another dramatic test of the emergency escape system for its upcoming Space Launch System (SLS). The Launch Abort System (LAS) sits at the very top of the rocket, and is tasked with forcefully pulling the crew out of harm’s way in the event of a life-threatening situation.

Engineers at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans have now joined together four fifths of the Space Launch System’s core stage. The upcoming super heavy rocket is slated to make its maiden flight in 2020, and will provide the lifting capabilities for America’s return to the Moon.

​Olaf Diegel of ODD Guitars has created a microphone that a player of his Spider guitar might use. The Skeletor that came out of the SLS machine is a perfect stylistic match for the voice of heavy metal himself, Ozzy Osbourne, or equally suited to the king of voodoo rock, Screaming Jay Hawkins.​

​NASA engineers are getting a bit of a buffeting this month as they conduct manned vibration tests on various Orion capsule systems to simulate launch conditions.