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2mo ago

NASA Faces Pressure to Replace Costly SLS Rocket for Artemis Missions

Debates intensify over transitioning to commercial rockets like SpaceX Falcon Heavy or Blue Origin's New Glenn to save billions on lunar missions.

One of four main engine nozzles is shown on the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis II at a NASA Artemis Media event at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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The company logo for Boeing is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 11, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Overview

  • The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket costs $4.2 billion per launch, significantly exceeding the costs of commercial alternatives.
  • NASA is considering replacing SLS with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy or Blue Origin's New Glenn for Artemis II and future missions, potentially reducing costs to $1.5-2 billion per mission.
  • Critics argue that continuing with the SLS program delays progress due to inefficiencies and cost-plus contracts with major contractors like Boeing.
  • Necessary modifications, including adapters and software updates, would be required to integrate the Orion spacecraft with commercial rockets, potentially delaying Artemis II to late 2026 or early 2027.
  • Boeing has informed employees of a potential cancellation of the SLS program, with a decision expected in March as part of broader government budget considerations.