Officials at the American space agency announce that they have
selected no less than 26 new development projects aimed at
improving NASA's future rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS).
The proposals were submitted by representatives of both academia
and industry, the agency says, and cover everything from concept
development, trades and analyses, and propulsion, to structures,
materials, manufacturing, avionics, and software. “Engaging with
academia and industry gives us the opportunity to take advantage
of the ingenuity and expertise beyond NASA. It will help us
optimize affordability while integrating mature technical
upgrades into future vehicles,” NASA HEOMD Associate
Administrator, William Gerstenmaier, says. The SLS will carry
out its maiden flight in 2017. By 2020, it will begin ferrying
the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) to orbit. Five years
later, an Orion capsule will make its way to an asteroid. By the
mid-2030s, NASA astronauts will reach Mars. A full list of the
SLS projects can be viewe