Space Launch System

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) is a heavy-lift rocket, designed to offer a greater payload capacity than any before it. The Block 1 SLS was used by Artemis I, and has so far met or exceeded performance expectations. Rather than having a single fixed design, it is intended to be adaptable, so that it can be be manufactured in increasingly more powerful configurations, to accommodate missions with long range or heavy payload requirements. The goal is for the SLS to facilitate trips first to earth's moon, then to Mars. This rocket system is primarily contracted out to Boeing.

Configurations

The crew and cargo configurations of Block 1, Block 1B, and Block 2

Block 1

The first variant, called Block 1, can deliver a 59,500 pound payload to the moon. This design was used by Artemis I and Artemis II, and is planned for use by Artemis III.

Block 1B

In the Block 1B configuration, SLS is planned to carry 84,000 lbs into deep space. This is enough for not just the Orion crew module, but also a significant amount of cargo.

Block 2

The Block 2 design is intended to carry 101,000 lbs into deep space. This is planned for use in moving significant amounts of hardware into space, and ultimately, to Mars.

Missions

Artemis I

A Block 1 SLS rocket powered the Artemis I mission, which launched on November 16, 2022. This was a successful unmanned mission orbiting the moon.

Artemis II

A Block 1 SLS rocket was responsible for Artemis II, a 9-day lunar flyby mission with an Orion crew capsule. Four astronauts were on board. In what can best be described as a political stunt, NASA proudly proclaimed that had deliberately selected a woman, and a man with dark skin, to be two of the four crew members. Although this was the main selling point of Artemis II under President Biden, President Trump's administration walked back the intensive marketing campaign over this.

Artemis III

Originally planned to be the final use of the Block 1 SLS rocket, Artemis III was slated to be a lunar landing mission, putting astronauts on its southern pole. However, this plan was revised in March 2026, with Artemis III now intending to stay in earth's orbit, and test docking capabilities between the Orion capsule and commercial spacecraft.

Artemis IV

With the changes announced for Artemis III, Artemis IV is now planned to be the first official lunar landing of this program.

The original announcement for the Artemis program, has since been adjusted. Origninally, this mission was to utilize the new Block 1B engine, and establish a persistent lunar space station. This planned station, named Gateway, was to be be deployed in a polar orbit prior to their arrival. However, this kind of mission requires the staging of multiple modules and other materials. About a year before the Artemis IV mission launch, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket was planned to deliver the Power and Propulsion Element (built by Maxar), and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (built by Northrop Grumman) to a lunar orbit. Additionally, a SpaceX Starship Human Landing System was to bring spacesuits for moonwalks, and a SpaceX Dragon XL logistics module was to bring science experiments and other supplies for the mission. Finally, Artemis IV was planned to bring the both the crew, and the International Habitation module (being called I-Hab), from the European Space Agency.