NASA\u27s Space Launch System: Deep-Space Delivery for Smallsats

Designed for human exploration missions into deep space, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) represents a new spaceflight infrastructure asset, enabling a wide variety of unique utilization opportunities. While primarily focused on launching the large systems needed for crewed spaceflight beyond Earth orbit, SLS also offers a game-changing capability for the deployment of small satellites to deep-space destinations, beginning with its first flight. Currently, SLS is making rapid progress toward readiness for its first launch in two years, using the initial configuration of the vehicle, which is capable of delivering more than 70 metric tons (t) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Planning is underway for smallsat accommodations on future configurations of the vehicle, which will present additional opportunities. This paper will include an overview of the SLS vehicle and its capabilities, including the current status of the rocket’s progress toward its first launch. It will also explain the current and future opportunities the vehicle offers for small satellites, including an overview of the CubeSat manifest for Exploration Mission-1 and a discussion of future capabilities