October 3rd, 2024

SLS is still a national disgrace

NASA's Space Launch System has launched once in four years, costing over $100 billion, facing criticism for inefficiency, mismanagement, and challenges in hiring, with skepticism about future improvements.

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SLS is still a national disgrace

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) continues to face criticism for its inefficiency and high costs, having launched only once in four years and consuming over $100 billion in development expenses. The program is described as a "national disgrace," with ongoing issues in hiring and retention at NASA, which struggles to compete with private space companies. The SLS is characterized as expensive, underpowered, and dangerous, with its operational integrity questioned. Other NASA projects, such as Mars Sample Return and the Europa Clipper, have also experienced significant budget overruns and delays, reflecting a broader trend of mismanagement within the agency. The blog highlights the cancellation or postponement of several missions, including the VERITAS mission to Venus and the VIPER lunar rover, due to budget constraints and poor planning. The author argues that NASA's leadership has failed to address these systemic issues, leading to a loss of technical integrity and credibility. As the agency approaches the end of the Biden Administration, there is little indication of a turnaround, with insiders expressing skepticism about the potential for meaningful organizational change.

- NASA's SLS program has launched only once in four years, costing over $100 billion.

- The agency faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining talent compared to private space companies.

- Numerous NASA projects have been delayed or canceled due to budget overruns and mismanagement.

- The leadership at NASA is criticized for failing to implement necessary organizational changes.

- There is growing skepticism among insiders regarding the agency's ability to improve its operations.

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By @db48x - 7 months
When you lay it all out like that it’s even worse than I thought.