Trump may cancel NASA's powerful SLS Moon rocket – here's what that would mean
Speculation suggests the Trump administration may cancel NASA's SLS, crucial for the Artemis program. This could impact lunar missions and U.S. competitiveness in the global space race against China.
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Recent speculation suggests that the incoming Trump administration may consider canceling NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), a critical component of the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon. The SLS is set to launch astronauts aboard the Orion crew capsule for the Artemis III mission, which is now delayed until at least Autumn 2026 due to various technical issues. If the SLS is scrapped, it raises questions about potential replacements, particularly Elon Musk's Starship, which is still undergoing testing and has not yet demonstrated all necessary capabilities for crewed lunar missions. While Musk's Starship could theoretically serve as both a launch vehicle and lunar lander, significant modifications and testing would be required, potentially leading to further delays. The SLS has already seen substantial investment, and its cancellation could have economic repercussions. The Trump administration's focus may shift towards Mars missions, aligning with Musk's ambitions, but this could detract from lunar exploration efforts. The outcome of these discussions will significantly impact the U.S. position in the ongoing global space race, particularly against China's lunar ambitions.
- Speculation exists that the Trump administration may cancel NASA's SLS rocket.
- The SLS is crucial for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
- Elon Musk's Starship could replace the SLS, but it is still in testing and requires further development.
- The Artemis III mission has been delayed until at least Autumn 2026 due to technical issues.
- The decision on the SLS could affect U.S. competitiveness in the global space race, especially against China.
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2 commentsWe'll see if it actually happens. People love to complain about government "waste", but it turns out to be remarkably hard to actually find any.
The government has a vested interest in keeping its aerospace firms afloat. We've never needed to go to the moon, certainly not again. We do it because we want to keep that industry going.
The SLS is probably the wrong way to do that. But just zeroing out its budget would create a lot of chaos in that industry. A lot would be lost in the process. The businesses who lose out would surely deserve that, but the workers (both for them and for the many, many side-industries and suppliers) do not.
We do, at least, have a commercial alternative now. But it's just one. And to be blunt, having the owner of that commercial alternative be a key adviser to the President smacks of corruption rather than serious consideration of the tradeoffs.
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