SLS

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.

​​NASA is turning to a 56-year-old wind tunnel to put its next generation Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through its aerodynamic paces.

NASA has begun the process of constructing a mock-up of the vast core section of its planned Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The simulated core will serve as a practice tool for NASA prior to the 2018 launch of the SLS.

NASA has completed its critical design review for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program (GSDO). The proposed changes to the ground services at the Kennedy Space Flight Center, would prepare the site to host NASA's next-generation launch vehicle.

NASA has successfully completed the first of two tests designed to certify the massive solid fuel boosters which will form a part of NASA's next generation Space Launch System (SLS). Once completed, SLS will represent the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed.