Space Launching System

The Space Launching System, or Space Launcher System, (SLS), was a 1960s-era design program of the US Air Force[1] for a family of launch vehicles based around a set of common components. After a series of studies in the late 1950s, the Air Force had concluded that the maximum efficiency would be gained by using only liquid hydrogen fuel for upper stages, which demanded the use of boosters based on segmented solid fuel rockets.[2] By combining one of three upper stages with three different diameters of solids built to any length needed, the SLS provided wide flexibility in launch capability.

This article is about the 1960s USAF rocket project. For the 21st-century NASA launch vehicle, see Space Launch System. For the Turkish satellite launcher, see Space Launch System (Turkey). For the general topic, see space launcher.

The SLS was one of two programs being designed at different divisions within the Air Force, with the ultimate aim of providing the launch services for the X-20 Dyna Soar crewed spaceplane. Its competition was an upgraded version of the Titan I with a new upper stage that produced the Titan C concept. In the end, neither SLS or Titan C would be developed, in its place the new Titan III was selected, combining the new missile of the Titan C with the solid boosters of the SLS.

The SLS was also needed for the Lunex Project, a proposed human lunar landing in 1967.[3][4]

The replacing Titan III was more formally known as Program 624A (SSLS), Standard Space Launch System, Standardized Space Launch System, Standardized Space Launching System or Standard Space Launching System.[5][6][7]

See also

References
  1. Ann Beardsley, C. Tony Garcia, Joseph Sweeney, Historical Guide to NASA and the Space Program, p. 220, Rowman & Littlefield, 2016 ISBN 1442262877.
  2. Robert Godwin, Dyna-Soar: Hypersonic Strategic Weapons System, pp. 141-142, Apogee Books, 2003 ISBN 1896522955.
  3. "Lunar Expedition Plan: Lunex" (PDF). 12 July 1961.
  4. "SLS". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  5. BLEYMAIER, JOSEPH (1963-12-11). "The Titan III Standardized Space Launch System". Heterogeneous Combustion Conference. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.1963-1407.
  6. PROGRAM 624A. PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS GENERAL SPECIFICATION (Report). 1962-11-01. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022.
  7. Military Space Systems. New Scientist. September 6, 1962. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
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