Heavy Lifting at NASA Yields a Rocket Design, But No Price Tag

Heavy Lifting at NASA Yields a Rocket Design, But No Price Tag

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencein...sa-yields.html

"The new rocket will use a liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propulsion
system, with an initial lift capacity of 70 metric tons. Eventually, it
will be able to carry 130 metric tons. NASA plans to use it to send
astronauts to an asteroid by the end of the decade, and ultimately to
Mars. NASA expects to be able to launch the first developmental flight
by the end of 2017.

"The Space Launch System, or SLS, will be designed to carry the Orion
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, as well as important cargo, equipment and
science experiments to Earth's orbit and destinations beyond.
Additionally, the SLS will serve as a back up for commercial and
international partner transportation services to the International Space
Station," according to a press release from NASA.

"NASA's announcement today makes no mention of how much the vehicle will
cost, but it attempts to allay concerns by saying that the program will
significantly reduce development and operations costs by using
"technological investments from the Space Shuttle program and the
Constellation program." An Associated Press story says the estimated
price tag is $35 billion. The space agency is likely to face prolonged
battles on the Hill over the funding required to build the rocket".

See:
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencein...sa-yields.html