This illustration depicts NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) in the Block 1 cargo configuration as it leaves Earth. To first lift SLS to orbit, the solid rocket boosters along with the core stage engines produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust. So that the rocket doesn’t have to carry all the weight of the boosters and the core stage to the Moon, they separate from the rocket. Then, the rocket’s upper stage provides power to send payloads on to more distant destinations. The Block 1 configuration is capable of sending more than 57,000 pounds, about the same weight as 12 fully grown elephants, to the Moon.