Space Launch System
NASA’s Space Launch System provides a critical heavy-lift capability, powering people and cargo beyond our moon and into deep space.
Building the Future of Human Spaceflight Beyond Earth
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) provides a critical heavy-lift capability, powering people and cargo beyond our moon and into deep space. SLS launches larger payloads farther in our solar system, faster than ever before possible. It will be the most powerful rocket ever built, enabling diverse exploration, science and security missions. Boeing is the prime contractor for the design, development, test and production of the launch vehicle cryogenic stages, as well as development of the avionics suite.
Construction Detail
Capping the Space Launch System
Boeing welds each massive dome cap for the SLS from curved, pie-shaped pieces of aluminum alloy.
Tools for a Big Job
New tooling is in place at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, ready to create the domes that will cap the SLS fuel tank barrels.
Specialists for the Job
Boeing fabrication specialists calibrate the tooling that welds pie shaped gore panels into completed domes.
Vertical Weld Center
The massive Vertical Weld Center welds together eight curved, 22-foot (6.7-meter) tall aluminum alloy panels to create SLS fuel tank barrels.
Milestones
Feature Stories
The Path to Mars: Deep Space Mission
December 4, 2014 in Innovation, Space
NASA is setting its eyes on the exploration of Mars, an over two year-long journey that will make history. Today's children will be the first explorers of our neighboring planet with help from Boeing technology to discover ground humans humans have yet to see.
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The Rocket Makers
November 19, 2014 in Space
With cutting-edge technology, Boeing employees once again are helping build a mighty rocket.
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38 Stories of Power
November 13, 2014 in Innovation, Space
With cutting-edge technology, Boeing employees once again are helping build a mighty rocket.
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Aerospace's largest tool unveiled
September 22, 2014 in Space
Take a ride on the new Space Launch System built by Boeing and ignite your human spirit.
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Tanks for a great idea
March 18, 2014 in Space, Technology
Boeing has designed and built two composite liquid-hydrogen fuel tanks for heavy-lift launch vehicles that will propel future air and space missions.
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Building the Biggest Rocket with the Biggest Tools
June 28, 2013 in Space
Boeing has designed and built two composite liquid-hydrogen fuel tanks for heavy-lift launch vehicles that will propel future air and space missions.
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Space Launch System Quick Facts
- Designed to be flexible and evolvable for crew or cargo missions
- Safe, affordable and sustainable to advance America’s exploration of space
- Two capabilities: 70 metric tons and 130 metric tons of payload capacity
- The 130 metric tons of capacity would take 22 fully grown elephants into orbit.
- The 70 metric ton configuration’s engine has 8.4 million pounds of thrust, equal to the horsepower produced in 160,000 Corvette engines, or 13,400 locomotive engines.
- The 130 metric ton configuration’s engine has 9.2 million pounds of thrust, equal to the horsepower produced in 208,000 Corvette engines, or 17,400 locomotive engines.
- Each solid rocket booster burns 5 tons of propellant per second.
- The power generated from three RS-25 engines on the SLS equals the output of 12 Hoover Dams.