NASA Seeks to Develop Shuttle Derived Heavy Launch Vehicle
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According to NASA sources, the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate has recommended (internally) that NASA pursue development of a heavy lift launch system based, in part, on the current Space Shuttle.
Such a Shuttle-derived Launch Vehicle (SDLV) would be capable of placing 80-100 metric tons of payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
NASA is expected to formally reveal its SDLV plans in the first week of July.
