Artist concept of the Block 1 SLS configuration in flight. The SLS is an advanced, heavy-lift rocket capable to provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. The first SLS mission -- Exploration Mission 1 -- in 2018 will launch an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to demonstrate the inte­grated system performance of the SLS rocket and spacecraft prior to a crewed flight.

<p>Image credit: NASA/MSFC</p><p>(Artist concept updated Oct. 20, 2015)</p><p>› Read More: NASA's Space Launch System Completes Preliminary Design Review</p><p>› Photo: Preliminary Design Review at MSFC</p><p>› Artist concept: SLS and Orion Stacked at KSC</p><p>› Artist concept: SLS Wireframe Design</p><p>› Artist concept: SLS Blueprint Design</p>