NASA Reveals New $35 Billion Rocket
WASHINGTON (CBSMiami.com) – NASA pulled the curtain back on its newest rocket that will bring back memories of the Saturn V rockets that propelled man to the moon.
The goal for the new Space Launch System rocket, which is slated to cost around $35 billion, won't be a return to the moon; instead the hope is that by the 2030's, the ship will take man to Mars.
The new rocket will rely more on liquid fuel as opposed to the solid rocket boosters used on the shuttle's. The rocket will be able to carry between 77 and 110 tons of payload in the beginning, before eventually being able to carry up to 143-165 tons into space.
For a comparison, the Saturn V booster that sent man to the moon was able to lift a maximum of 130 tons. The space shuttle could haul only 27 tons, and the biggest unmanned rocket right now can carry only 25 tons.
The only drawback to the new rocket is that it's size will likely mean it can only be used one time, as opposed to the reusable shuttle.
In the beginning of the program, the giant rocket will use five solid rocket boosters designed for the space shuttle strapped to the outside and will have shuttle main engines on the inside. The solid rocket boosters will be replaced by new rockets that could either be solid or liquid.
The benefit of a liquid powered rocket is that it can be turned off and on; whereas once a solid rocket booster is lit, it can't be turned off.
NASA is reportedly going to spend $3 billion a year on the new rocket.
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