Six Future Deep Space Exploration Missions for the NASA Space Launch System

The NASA Space Launch System’s (SLS) heavy lift capability and large fairing will enable a variety of exciting new crewed and uncrewed missions over the next 30 years. With the capability to launch 130 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit, the SLS is unmatched to its ability to launch spacecraft on high energy, fast transfer direct direct trajectories to deep space destinations. With a payload bay diameter of up to 8.4-meters the SLS capability to launch very large diameter telescopes and long duration crew habitats is unmatched. With very heavy spacecraft and large volumes, significantly more science can be returned, providing more discovery sooner. Six such high science value missions, enabled by the SLS, are outlined in this report; these are: • The crewed Phobos exploration mission, • The Europa lander / rover mission, • The single launch, dual-spacecraft, Uranus/ Neptune mission, • The single launch, Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, • The Phobos North Pole telescope mission, • The Lunar South Pole crewed lander mission. Each of these missions requires the capabilities enabled by the SLS, and each would offer spectacular science return along with new knowledge and perspectives of the universe.