NASA's Space Launch System passes tech hurdle, ready to start construction (al.com)

By Lee Roop | lroop@al.com The Huntsville Times
on December 21, 2012 at 12:01 PM, updated December 21, 2012 at 12:24 PM

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), the new heavy-lift rocket system being created for a mission to Mars, passed a major technical review Thursday at Huntsville's Marshall Space Flight Center. NASA says the system is on track to meet its 2017 launch date, and contractor Boeing can now begin building the core stage.

The core stage preliminary design review (PDR) was held Thursday at NASA Marshall and included representatives from the agency and Boeing. Boeing's Exploration Launch Systems in Huntsville is the prime contractor for the core stage and its avionics. Marshall manages the SLS Program.

"Passing a preliminary design review within 12 months of bringing Boeing on contract shows we are on track toward meeting a 2017 launch date," said Tony Lavoie, manager of the SLS stages at Marshall. "We can now allow those time-critical areas of design to move forward with initial fabrication and proceed toward the final design phase -- culminating in a critical design review in 2014 -- with confidence."
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more: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/12/nasas_space_launch_system_pass.html