The Real Reason NASA's SLS Rocket Will Fail

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, designed for the Artemis moon landing program, faces cancellation due to its high cost, extended development time, and potential inefficiency compared to alternatives. A shift in plans may involve utilizing SpaceX's Starship for lunar landing and potentially employing SpaceX Falcon Heavy and ULA Vulcan rockets to launch the Orion capsule, potentially offering a more cost-effective and efficient approach to achieving the Artemis mission objectives.

SLS Rocket's Potential Cancellation

• 00:00:09 The SLS rocket is facing potential cancellation due to concerns over its high cost and extended development time. A recent post by Eric Berger suggests a 50/50 chance of the program's termination, with NASA possibly recognizing the SLS as a failed project. This potential cancellation is fueled by a desire for more efficient and cost-effective space exploration.

Trump's Impact on Artemis Program

• 00:02:02 The second Trump presidency is anticipated to reshape the Artemis program due to its focus on efficiency and tearing down the status quo. SLS, being a symbol of inefficiency and large spending with no results, could be targeted for changes or cancellation. This change may bring about job losses in states that heavily rely on NASA SLS contracts, mainly in states that support Trump and his administration.

SLS Costs and Alternatives

• 00:02:44 The SLS and Orion programs have accumulated an astronomical cost of roughly $85 billion, exceeding the cost of the Space Shuttle program. Despite this massive investment, a single crewed launch has not yet occurred, and each mission is estimated to cost $4 billion to send just four people to lunar orbit. Alternatives like using SpaceX Falcon Heavy and ULA Vulcan rockets exist, offering a potentially more cost-effective path to achieving the program's goals.

Proposed Alternative: Falcon Heavy & Vulcan

• 00:07:56 A potential alternative to SLS utilizes the SpaceX Falcon Heavy and the ULA Vulcan Centaur rockets. Falcon Heavy, already crew-rated, could launch the Orion capsule into Earth's orbit. The Vulcan Centaur, with its high-energy Centaur 5 upper stage, could then send Orion to the lunar orbit. This two-rocket approach would cost significantly less than SLS while potentially providing a better lunar orbit.

Starship's Role and Challenges

• 00:09:53 While Starship is a viable option for landing on the moon, its use for a complete, independent mission to the moon presents challenges. Refueling Starship in lunar orbit or on the moon adds significant complexity for an initial lunar mission. Also, the current Starship design lacks a heat shield capable of handling the high re-entry speeds from the moon, requiring significant testing before human missions.