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January 8th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda NASA Space Flight is reporting that as the development of the Space Launch System proceeds, options are being explored to use its capability to conduct planetary missions to Europa and Enceladus, moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
Why is the SLS being considered for planetary missions to the outer planets?
The SLS, in its various iterations, will be capable of lofting 70 metric tons to 130 metric tons to low Earth orbit. This is considered necessary for launching human expeditions to the moon, Earth approaching asteroids and eventually Mars.
The same capability will give the U.S. the ability to launch medium to large planetary probes to the outer planets by a direct route. Currently probes such as the Galileo and the Cassini were obliged to use multiple gravity assist maneuvers to build up enough velocity to get to the Jovian or the Saturn system. This arrangement added years to the flight time of the probes.
The power of the SLS will knock considerable time from the period necessary to fly from the Earth to one of the Outer Planets. In addition, fairly large planetary probes could be placed on targets in the outer planets with some ease.
Mission to Europa
NASA planners are looking at a sample return mission to Europa, a moon of Jupiter covered with a thick crust of ice, launched by the SLS. A probe would land on Europa’s surface, take samples, perhaps even drilling to the sub surface ocean known to exist on that moon, and then return with samples for scientists to study.
Mission to Enceladus
Cassini has noted Enceladus shoots plumes of icy particles into space from its south polar region. The SLS would give NASA the capability of flying a sample return mission to Enceladus. The probe would fly through the plume, taking samples of its content, and then return them to Earth for study.
What is the bottom line?
What space missions get flown are determined by two things: capability and money. An operational Space Launch System would not only open up the path for humans to explore beyond low Earth orbit, but would also allow for a vastly enhanced robotic exploration program, especially of the outer solar system.
The sticking point, of course, is money. Because of the current fiscal crisis, not to mention the disinterest of the current administration in supporting space exploration, NASA’s budget is likely to be flat for the time being. But that does not necessarily mean it will be the case in the 2020s, when the SLS will have become operational. And improved fiscal climate and an administration with a better vision of America’s future in space might well improve NASA’s budget outlook. If the capabilities inherent in the heavy lift SLS are available, then so much the better.
Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker . He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times, and The Weekly Standard.
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