Mars exploration has become one of imperative subjects in space research on which the scientists of NASA and other space agencies working ambitiously. NASA has announced that they are on the verge to finalize the extensive assessment of the Space Launch System (SLS), the high class, gigantic rocket which is supposed to take the humans to the planet Mars by 2018.
NASA officials have approved the program’s development in technical aspects and made developments in evaluating hardware of the rocket. Now the scientists are embarked on to take rocket to the first flight test. For initial testing, SLS will be designed for a 70-metric ton lift capacity and carry a non-crew Orion spacecraft beyond low earth orbit.
In its most powerful configuration, the rocket will be installed with an extraordinary lift capacity of 130 metric tons, which hopefully will allow the space program to go for exploration even beyond the solar system, something no other exploration class vehicle has achieved since the agency built the space shuttle.
The decision of the test flights came after a comprehensive evaluation known as Key Decision Point C (KDP-C). The program will undergo a development cost of $7.021 billion for the 70-metric ton version of the SLS.
SLS will be the world’s most capable rocket. In addition to opening new frontiers for explorers traveling aboard the Orion capsule, it can also assist other space missions potentially.
The next phase of development for SLS is the Critical Design Review, a programmatic gate that confirms the agency’s sureness in the program planning and technical risk posture.