Ameer Randolph
The Artemis I mission, formerly known as Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), was an uncrewed Moon-orbiting mission launched in November 2022. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is the most powerful rocket in the world, played a crucial role in this mission. The SLS core stage, with its four RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters, performed exceptionally well during the launch. The core stage of the SLS has a diameter of 8.4 meters and runs on liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx). The liquid hydrogen tank for Artemis I faced issues with faulty welds, but these issues were addressed, and the tank was re-entered into production. While the specific fuel tank size for Artemis I SLS may not be readily available, the SLS rocket's impressive performance highlights the significance of its fuel capacity and propulsion system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank size | 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Fuel tank size change when loaded | The fuel tank shrinks by about 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter |
| Core stage | 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide |
| Engines | Four RS-25 engines |
| Engine thrust | 2 million pounds of thrust |
| Engine power | 2.279 MN of thrust in a vacuum, with an ISP of 4.436 km/s |
| Engine fuel | Liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx) |
| Engine manufacturer | Aerojet Rocketdyne |
| Engine weight | 7,000 pounds |
| Engine nozzle features | Additional insulation to protect them from the exhaust of the solid rocket boosters |
| Engine controller | New controller |
| Engine software | New software |
| Engine history | Four Artemis 1 Space Launch System RS-25 engines first flew on 21 space shuttle missions |
| Engine future | Engines will be expended on this flight |
| Solid rocket boosters | Two solid rocket boosters |
| Solid rocket booster manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Solid rocket booster power | 3.6 million pounds of push from each |
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What You'll Learn
- The Artemis I SLS core stage is fuelled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
- The SLS core stage fuel tank shrinks by 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter when loaded
- The SLS core stage has four RS-25 engines, which consume 1,500 gallons of propellant per second
- The RS-25 engines produce 2.279 MN of thrust in a vacuum
- The SLS core stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide
The Artemis I SLS core stage is fuelled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
The Artemis program aims to bring humans back to the Moon safely and sustainably, and it differs from the Apollo program in that it will require several launches to return humans to the lunar surface. The maiden launch of the Artemis I mission, which took place in fall 2022, saw the Orion spacecraft launched to a distant retrograde lunar orbit atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The SLS rocket is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built, weighing 5.75 million pounds when fully fueled for launch.
The core stage of the SLS is a sustainer stage that runs on liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx). A sustainer stage is lit on the ground and remains lit until orbit. The core stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide, and it uses autogenous pressurization to backfill the tank. The four RS-25 engines on the core stage produce 2.279 MN of thrust in a vacuum, with an ISP of 4.436 km/s. The RS-25 is a fuel-rich dual-shaft staged combustion cycle engine that runs on LH2 and LOx. The LH2 tank is larger than the LOx tank, but LOx is denser than LH2 and takes longer to load.
The SLS rocket's two solid-fuel boosters consume 5.5 tons of propellant per second. The heat generated by the boosters during their two minutes of operation, if converted into electricity, would power 92,000 homes for a full day. The four RS-25 engines on the core stage consume 1,500 gallons of propellant per second, which is enough to drain an average 20,000-gallon swimming pool in 13 seconds.
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The SLS core stage fuel tank shrinks by 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter when loaded
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is a powerful rocket developed by NASA for its Artemis program. The SLS rocket is designed to carry the Orion spacecraft and European Service Module to lunar orbit, with the ultimate goal of bringing humans back to the Moon.
The SLS rocket's core stage is a crucial component that houses the liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx) tanks. This core stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide. Interestingly, when the fuel tank in the SLS core stage is loaded with 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at an extremely low temperature of minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit, it undergoes a noticeable transformation.
Due to the extreme cold, the large fuel tank shrinks by approximately 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. This phenomenon is a result of the thermal contraction of the tank's materials. The shrinkage is not unexpected and is taken into account during the design and engineering of the SLS rocket.
The loading of LH2 into the core stage fuel tank is a critical step in the launch process. In fact, following the Artemis I launch attempts in August and September, the timeline was adjusted to allow more time for this procedure. The successful loading of LH2 is essential for the rocket's performance and the overall success of the mission.
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The SLS core stage has four RS-25 engines, which consume 1,500 gallons of propellant per second
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. It is designed to carry heavier payloads and travel farther and faster than ever before. The SLS rocket is preparing for its debut with the upcoming Artemis I flight, which will be the first integrated test flight for NASA's SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems. The SLS core stage for the mission, CS-1, arrived at the launch site on April 27, 2021, and was moved to the VAB low bay for refurbishment and stacking preparations on April 29. The stage adapter was stacked on the Core Stage on June 22, and the ICPS upper stage was stacked on July 6.
The SLS core stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide. When loaded with 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit, the huge fuel tank in the SLS core stage will shrink by about 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. The core stage uses autogenous pressurization to backfill the tank. The SLS center core with its four RS-25 engines performed "perfectly" during the Artemis I mission, along with the two Solid Rocket Boosters, which performed "extremely well."
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The RS-25 engines produce 2.279 MN of thrust in a vacuum
The Artemis I mission is the first test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The SLS is a Space Shuttle-derived launch vehicle, and the first stage of the rocket is powered by one central core stage and two outboard solid rocket boosters. The core stage of the SLS is a sustainer stage that runs on liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx). This stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide, and it uses autogenous pressurization to backfill the tank.
The core stage of the SLS is equipped with four RS-25 engines, which produce 2.279 MN of thrust in a vacuum, with an ISP of 4.436 km/s. The RS-25 is a fuel-rich dual-shaft staged combustion cycle engine that runs on LH2 and LOx. The four RS-25 engines provide a total of 2 million pounds of thrust, which is equivalent to the power needed to keep eight 747 jumbo jets in flight. The energy output of these engines, if converted into electricity, would be enough to power nearly 850,000 miles of streetlights on a road stretching to the moon and back and then 15 times around the Earth.
The RS-25 engines used in the Artemis I mission are flight-proven, having supported many shuttle flights. However, they will be expended during this flight. The four engines consume 1,500 gallons of propellant per second, and they are responsible for propelling the SLS into space, along with the solid rocket boosters.
The SLS rocket for the Artemis I mission is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. It weighs 5.75 million pounds when fully fueled for launch and will climb nearly 500 feet straight up in just seven seconds. The huge fuel tank in the SLS core stage will shrink by about 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter when loaded with 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit.
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The SLS core stage is 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide
The SLS core stage is an impressive 65 meters tall and 8.4 meters wide. This stage is a sustainer stage, which means it is lit on the ground and remains lit until orbit. The core stage of the SLS is powered by four RS-25 engines, which produce a mighty 2 million pounds of thrust. Together, the core stage and its boosters produce more thrust at liftoff than any prior US rocket in history.
The RS-25 engines are attached to the bottom of the core stage and are fuelled by liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx). The huge fuel tank in the SLS core stage holds 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the fuel tank shrinks by about 6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. The SLS core stage also uses autogenous pressurization to backfill the tank.
The core stage is not just large, but also heavy. When fully fuelled for launch, the Space Launch System rocket weighs 5.75 million pounds. Despite this, the SLS rocket will climb nearly 500 feet straight up in just seven seconds. The SLS is preparing for its debut with the upcoming Artemis I flight, which will be the first integrated test flight for NASA's SLS, Orion, and the Exploration Ground Systems.
The SLS core stage for the Artemis I mission, CS-1, arrived at the launch site on April 27, 2021. The stage was then stacked with its boosters on June 12, and the stage adapter was added on June 22. The ICPS upper stage was stacked on July 6. The Artemis I Orion spacecraft began fuelling and pre-launch servicing on January 16, 2021.
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Frequently asked questions
The fuel tank size for Artemis 1 SLS is 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen.
The Artemis 1 SLS uses liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx) as fuel.
The Artemis 1 mission is the first test flight of the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft. It is an uncrewed mission that will send the Orion spacecraft far beyond the moon into a distant retrograde orbit before returning to Earth. The journey will be the farthest into space that a human-rated spacecraft has ever travelled.
