| has gloss | eng: The National Launch System (or New Launch System) was a study authorized in 1991 by President George H. W. Bush to outline alternatives to the Space Shuttle for access to Earth Orbit. Shortly thereafter, NASA asked Lockheed Missiles and Space, McDonnell Douglas, and TRW, to perform a ten-month study. A series of launch vehicles was proposed, based around the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) liquid-fuel rocket engine, a proposed simplified, expendable version of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). The largest of the three proposed vehicles was designated NLS-1 and used a modified Space Shuttle External Tank with two Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters attached as on the Shuttle. Four STMEs would be attached to the bottom of the tank structure with a payload or second stage on top. |
