Nasa's new Space Launch System (SLS) is a multi-billion-dollar venture to take humans beyond the International Space Station (ISS) and the confines of low-Earth orbit.

BBC: European tech could propel Nasa's Orion capsule

Following the retirement of the US space shuttle in 2011, the only way to transfer astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) is aboard the three-seat Russian Soyuz vehicle.

BBC: Major Tim Peake says he is not too old to go into space

Passengers will ride the rocket plane for the fun of it, but scientists would use it for the same reasons they also fly experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) or on sounding rockets - to access microgravity conditions.

BBC: Virgin spaceship aims to be science lab

Dr Patrick's first mission was as the robotic arm operator on STS-116 - a mission of the Discovery shuttle in 2006 to continue the construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

BBC: 'UK spaceman' Nicholas Patrick honoured

Lift-off from the Kourou spaceport occurred at 18 hours, 50 minutes and 55 seconds local time (2150.55 GMT) - the instant needed to put the truck on the right path to catch the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday next week.

BBC: 'Johannes Kepler' space freighter heads to station