Ted Cruz Explains NASA’s “Senate Launch System” Nickname
▼ Summary
– The original senators who supported NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket have all left office, but Texas Republican Ted Cruz has now become its new champion.
– Cruz, despite being a fiscal conservative and previously supporting commercial space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, has shifted his stance since chairing the Senate Commerce Committee.
– He is actively working to save the SLS rocket, which costs over $2 billion per launch, and its contractor Boeing.
– Cruz added a provision to a bill providing $6.7 billion for two additional SLS missions and continued Lunar Gateway construction, countering White House plans to end SLS funding.
– His priority is to beat China to the Moon and maintain a presence there, which he believes requires continued use of the SLS rocket.
The future of NASA’s Space Launch System, often dubbed the “Senate Launch System” due to its deep political roots, now rests in the hands of an unexpected advocate: Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. With the original architects of the program, Bill Nelson, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Richard Shelby, no longer in office, Cruz has stepped into a pivotal role, championing the costly rocket despite his reputation as a fiscal conservative and his state’s strong ties to commercial space rivals like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
As chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Cruz has shifted his legislative focus toward preserving the SLS, a move that marks a notable departure from his earlier support for private space initiatives. This change in stance comes at a critical juncture, as the White House had proposed ending funding for the rocket after the Artemis III mission and canceling the Lunar Gateway project.
Earlier this year, Cruz successfully attached a NASA provision to a broader legislative package, securing $6.7 billion in funding for two additional SLS missions, Artemis IV and Artemis V, as well as continued support for the Gateway. This move directly countered administration plans to wind down the program, ensuring that Boeing, the rocket’s primary contractor, retains a central role in NASA’s lunar ambitions.
In recent hearings, Cruz has emphasized the urgency of returning to the Moon ahead of China and maintaining a sustained presence there. He now argues that these goals can only be achieved through the continued use of the SLS, positioning the government-built rocket as indispensable to national space strategy. This stance places him at odds with commercial alternatives that promise lower costs and greater flexibility, raising questions about the long-term viability and fiscal responsibility of the program.
(Source: Ars Technica)
