Overview

• Boeing has notified employees of potential layoffs affecting approximately 400 positions by April 2025, citing cost adjustments in NASA's Artemis program.
• NASA reiterated the Space Launch System (SLS) as critical to its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2027.
• The Artemis program faces scrutiny over the SLS's high costs, with critics suggesting SpaceX's Starship could provide a more economical alternative for lunar missions.
• The SLS, developed under a cost-plus contract, has faced delays and budget overruns, with each launch estimated to cost over $4 billion.
• SpaceX's Starship, contracted as the lunar lander for Artemis III, is being developed under a fixed-price agreement, creating contrasting cost structures between the two systems.