Lawmakers Push for Cheaper SLS Rocket Upper Stage in NASA Budget
▼ Summary
– Congress opposes the Trump administration’s proposal to cancel NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket after two more launches, as seen in recent spending bills.
– The House Appropriations Committee’s draft budget indicates potential openness to significant changes in the SLS program while maintaining its funding.
– Artemis II, the next SLS flight, is set for early next year to send astronauts around the Moon, followed by Artemis III for a lunar landing attempt.
– The Trump administration plans to terminate SLS, Orion, and Gateway after Artemis III, shifting focus to commercial launches and Mars exploration.
– While House and Senate bills aim to preserve SLS, Orion, and Gateway, the House version directs NASA to explore cheaper, faster options for a new SLS upper stage.
Lawmakers are challenging recent proposals to scrap NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), advocating instead for cost-saving modifications to keep the heavy-lift rocket operational for future lunar missions. Congressional spending bills currently under review reject the administration’s plan to retire the SLS after just two more launches, signaling strong bipartisan support for the program. However, discussions reveal a willingness to explore more affordable alternatives for key components, particularly the rocket’s upper stage.
The next SLS mission, Artemis II, is slated for early next year, marking the first crewed flight around the Moon since the Apollo era. Following that, Artemis III aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole, building on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I test flight in 2022. Despite these milestones, the administration has proposed ending the SLS program after Artemis III, along with the Orion spacecraft and the lunar Gateway station. Instead, the plan favors relying on commercial providers for deep-space transportation while shifting focus toward Mars exploration.
Congressional appropriations committees, however, are pushing back. Both the House and Senate versions of NASA’s budget preserve funding for SLS, Orion, and Gateway. Notably, the House draft includes language urging NASA to reconsider the design of the rocket’s upper stage to reduce costs and accelerate development.
Currently, Boeing is developing the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), a more powerful upgrade set to debut on Artemis IV. Unlike the interim upper stage used in early SLS flights, which relies on a single engine, the EUS will feature four engines and larger fuel tanks, enhancing payload capacity. Lawmakers now want NASA to evaluate whether alternative designs or commercial solutions could achieve similar performance at a lower price, ensuring the rocket remains viable for future missions.
The debate highlights a broader tension between government-led space exploration and the growing role of private industry. While some argue that commercial rockets could offer cheaper alternatives, supporters of the SLS emphasize its unmatched power and reliability for deep-space missions. As budget negotiations continue, the final decision will shape not only NASA’s lunar ambitions but also the future of human spaceflight beyond Earth’s orbit.
(Source: Ars Technica)
