Solid rocket boosters firing their separation rockets and pushing away from the core stage, which will continue toward space with the Orion spacecraft. (Note: artist concept current as of April 10, 2014) Image credit: NASA/MSFC Source: Supplied
MANY of us have only ever seen the Moon landing on replay but we may finally get to witness our own defining moment in space exploration — when NASA takes us to Mars.
Not since 1972 when the last manned spacecraft flew to the moon, have humans travelled beyond the low Earth orbit and into deep space.
But with the signing of a $2.8 billion contract this week, the most powerful rocket ever built is on its way to sending people to the red planet.
What a monster: An artist's impression of the proposed Space Launch System. Image credit: NASA (Concept updated Jan. 14, 2014). Source: Supplied
The American space program NASA is still the only agency whose astronauts have walked on the Moon and in 2021 it hopes to launch a spacecraft capable of taking humans further than ever before.
On Wednesday it was announced that Boeing had signed the contract, giving them the go-ahead to start full production of the "core stage" for the Space Launch System (SLS), which will be the most powerful rocket in history.
It will propel the Orion spacecraft (which will carry up to four astronauts) as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments into deep space.
An artist's rendering of what the Orion capsule could look like. AFP PHOTO/HANDOUT/NASA/ESA Source: AFP
This week the system passed its Critical Design Review which saw 11 expert teams assess the design of the rocket to ensure it was suitable for production.
A spokeswoman for Boeing said that production of the rocket had already started, with hopes that it will be ready for its first mission in 2017.
Tony Lavoie, manager of the Stages Office at Marshall, said passing the review was a "huge accomplishment".
"This is the first time a stage of a major NASA launch vehicle has passed a critical design review since the 1970s," Mr Lavoie said.
We have lift-off: Space Launch System gets go ahead for full production. Image credit: NASA (Concept updated July 30, 2013) Source: Supplied
WHEN CAN WE WATCH THE LAUNCH?
The first mission — Exploration Mission 1 — is scheduled to take place in 2017 and will involve sending an unmanned aircraft into space to test the system's performance.
If all goes well, Exploration Mission 2 will launch in 2021 and will see up to four American astronauts launched into space on board the Orion spacecraft.
It is hoped that astronauts will be sent to an asteroid by 2025 and to Mars by the 2030s.
The Space Launch System will be the rocket providing the huge amount of power necessary to propel the Orion into deep space.
A full size test model of the Orion spacecraft in 2012. AFP PHOTO/Bruce Weaver Source: AFP
HOW FAR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
The US, Russia and China have all been sending astronauts into space for years and in recent times this has centred around the International Space Station, which is about 320 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
NASA's Space Launch System wants to send humans beyond the low Earth orbit, which is generally defined as being up to 2000km above the Earth's surface.
Where we hope to go: The future of space exploration. Image credit: NASA Source: Supplied
Most satellites travel within the low Earth orbit, although some communications satellites are higher.
Orbits higher beyond this can experience earlier failure of electronic components due to intense radiation.
With the exception of the Apollo program, which reached the moon about 350,000km away, no human spaceflights have travelled beyond this limit.
In what will be a huge leap in human exploration of space, NASA's new system will allow astronauts in the Orion to travel to an asteroid 64,000 kms beyond the moon and eventually to Mars more than 1.5 million kilometres away.
It will also enable robotic science missions to travel to places such as Mars, Saturn and Jupiter.
The first test launch of the Space Launch System will be in 2017. Image credit: NASA (Concept updated July 30, 2013). Source: Supplied
BLAST OFF
The mega version of the Space Launch System will hopefully launch in 2021 once smaller versions have been tested first.
This system will be 117 metres high and will weigh a massive 2.9 million kilos. When it lifts off it will have about 4.1 million kilos of thrust, more than 34 times the total thrust of a 747 jet.
The horsepower is equivalent to 298,000 Corvette engines and system will be able to carry payloads weighing about 130,000 kilos to orbit.
An artist rendering of the various configurations of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Image credit: NASA Source: Supplied
The system will feature the largest cryogenic fuel tanks ever used on a rocket and the system will be able to lift more than 143 tons.
Four former space shuttle engines, which all have been used in missions before with a 100 per cent success rate, will power the massive structure.
THE ORION SPACECRAFT
Orion is the spacecraft which the astronauts will travel in and that they will hopefully use to travel into deep space.
The vessel will be built by Lockheed Martin Corp and will be powered by two additional J-2X engines to provide the extra boost needed to travel to Mars.
These two engines will be the first liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen rocket engines developed in 40 years certified to transport humans.
When it returns to Earth, it will reach speeds of almost 20,000 miles per hour and will be protected by the world's largest heat shield, measuring 16.5 feet in diameter.
For more information go to http://www.nasa.gov/sls/
The Orion crew module is being built. AFP Photo/NASA/Sean Smith Source: AFP
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