Despite the fact that NASA has admitted that the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket cannot be afforded, a fact that has been brought up by detractors for over a decade but has been mostly disregarded by NASA officials and legislative leaders, it is not at all apparent that they will be able to keep costs under control. However, space agency officials stated that they have a four-step strategy to lower the price of the SLS rocket program over the course of its lifetime. Among them will be the promotion of innovative ideas, the achievement of learning curve efficiencies, the modification of acquisition tactics to decrease cost risk, and the maintenance of a stable flight schedule.
The space agency also stated that it is collaborating with Aerojet, the primary supplier of the SLS rocket’s main engines, to cut the cost of each engine by thirty percent, bringing the total cost of each engine to seventy and a half million dollars by the end of this decade.
NASA recognizes the need to improve the affordability of the SLS program and is taking steps to do so; senior agency officials have told us that at current cost levels, the SLS program is unsustainable and exceeds what NASA officials believe will be available for its Artemis missions, stated the report.
Another issue with the cost estimates provided by NASA is the fact that they seem not to take into account the possibility of postponement to Artemis flights. Launch of the Artemis II mission, which will include sending a crew on a trip around the Moon, is not likely to occur before 2025 at the earliest. The arrival of a crew on Artemis III is expected to be delayed until at least 2026, and maybe even further, as a result of further setbacks.
What are your opinions on the processes that space agencies use to create their various spacecraft and other projects? Do you believe that large sums, such as millions of dollars, are really required?
