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Space Launch System

NASA’s Space Launch System is an expendable, evolvable super heavy-lift launch-vehicle family for crewed and cargo missions beyond Earth orbit. Every configuration uses a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen core stage powered by four RS-25 engines and two five-segment solid rocket boosters, with progressively more capable upper stages for the Block 1, Block 1B, and Block 2 variants.

Space Launch System
“SLS Rollout to Launch Pad 39B” by NASA · Source
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Identity

Aliases
SLS
Family Name
Space Launch System
Full Name
Space Launch System
Status
active
Type
rocket

Details

Description
NASA’s Space Launch System is an expendable, evolvable super heavy-lift launch-vehicle family for crewed and cargo missions beyond Earth orbit. Every configuration uses a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen core stage powered by four RS-25 engines and two five-segment solid rocket boosters, with progressively more capable upper stages for the Block 1, Block 1B, and Block 2 variants.
Dimensions
Diameter M
8.4
First Flight Year
2,022
Manufacturer
Operator
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
  • Entries
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
    Name
    SLS Block 1 RL10C-2 configuration
    Notes
    NASA identifies the Space Launch System Block 1 stack as twin five-segment boosters, four RS-25 core engines, and the ICPS upper stage powered by RL10C-2 for Artemis II and III.
  • Entries
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
    Name
    SLS Block 1B / Block 2 RL10C-3 configuration
    Notes
    NASA identifies the Exploration Upper Stage for SLS Block 1B as using four RL10C-3 engines; this family-level configuration records the supported upper-stage relationship while preserving the existing booster and core baseline.
Rocket Specs
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
2
Strap On Boosters Count
2

Links

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
April 26, 2026 at 14:21:48 UTC
Updated Time
August 13, 2026 at 20:58:03 UTC