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Following reports of potential layoffs affecting up to 400 employees within Boeing’s Space Launch System initiative, NASA has emphasized the indispensable role of the SLS megarocket in its Artemis moon landing project. This statement has raised questions about possible alterations to both the launch vehicle and the Artemis mission in the near future.
Speculation abounds regarding the fate of the SLS, which completed its inaugural test flight in 2022. The rocket has long been a subject of contention within the space community due to its staggering cost overrun, with development expenses exceeding initial estimates by billions of dollars. Critics argue that SpaceX’s Starship, a more cost-effective alternative currently in the early stages of development, could potentially achieve lunar missions at a fraction of the expense.
Former NASA administrator Bill Nelson expressed confidence in the ongoing Artemis program and dismissed concerns about potential restructuring. Despite political pressures, with key legislators continuing to endorse the SLS program, recent signals from Boeing suggest impending changes. The aerospace company forewarned of significant workforce reductions tied to revisions in the Artemis program and associated costs.
While NASA has not provided specifics on the future of Artemis, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with industry partners to optimize resources and align with mission objectives, uncertainties loom over the fate of the SLS and the direction of lunar exploration efforts going forward.
Boeing did not respond to a request for additional comment. NASA has long stated its intentions to utilize the SLS rocket for at least 10 Artemis missions, with the primary goal of returning humans to the moon’s surface and establishing a permanent lunar outpost. SpaceX’s Starship is also poised to play a significant role in this endeavor. NASA has entered into an agreement to compensate SpaceX with nearly $4 billion in exchange for providing transportation for astronauts during the final phase of the mission. The space agency plans to utilize the Starship spacecraft, the upper stage of SpaceX’s launch system, as a lunar lander to transport astronauts from the Orion spacecraft, which is launched atop the SLS, to the moon’s surface. Despite the fixed-price nature of SpaceX’s contracts with NASA, which means no additional funding will be allocated should resources deplete, SpaceX will retain ownership of the vehicle and have the freedom to utilize it for commercial purposes. On the other hand, Boeing is developing NASA’s SLS under a “cost-plus contract,” which has allowed the space agency’s expenses to escalate due to project delays and development challenges. At one point, Nelson even referred to cost-plus contracts as a “plague.” To stay updated on more news and newsletters from CNN, you can create an account on CNN.com.
