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Every single launch of SLS will cost 2 billion dollars. It's just waste of money. Cancelling SLS will also not make Artemis program any more late than it is.

Every single launch of SLS will cost 2 billion dollars. It's just waste of money. Cancelling SLS will also not make Artemis program any more late than it is. Starship must be fully successful to get people to the Moon surface. If Starship is fully successful, then you have Starship+Crew Dragon. And you don't need SLS+Orion.

unethical_ban 4y ago
It would be nice to have at least two functional super-heavy options. Falcon Heavy (not sure if it's good for lunar) or Starship, and SLS. One could make the argument that SLS being an option keeps SpaceX and others pushing to be the superior functional candidate. Without SLS as an option, SpaceX has a monopoly on the capability. just thinking out loud. Related questions for anyone who knows: * Can Orion fit on Falcon Heavy/Starship? * Can Crew Dragon support more-than-LEO missions? * Can Falcon Heavy support crewed more-than-LEO missions?
- Isinlor 4y ago
  Falcon 9 + Crew Dragon and Starliner (hopefully, once it flies) can support Starship in LEO. Then Starship can get you to Lunar and Mars surface. SLS is not pushing SpaceX on anything anymore, because Falcon Heavy took almost everything besides Orion from SLS. That's Falcon Heavy mind you, not Starship. SLS was important for assembling Lunar Gateway. Lunar Gateway itself is useless and was invented for justifying SLS existence. But if we skip that, then funny fact. Lots of pieces of Lunar Gataway will fly on Falcon Heavy! Resupply to Lunar Gateway will also fly with SpaceX on Dragon XL and Falcon Heavy. There was also NASA flagship Europa Clipper mission. But due to lack of available SLS vehicles, NASA shifted it away from SLS and it will fly on Falcon Heavy. You just can't make it up. https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-first-gateway-elements/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-fi... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon#Dragon_XL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon#Dragon_XL

unethical_ban 4y ago

It would be nice to have at least two functional super-heavy options. Falcon Heavy (not sure if it's good for lunar) or Starship, and SLS. One could make the argument that SLS being an option keeps SpaceX and others pushing to be the superior functional candidate. Without SLS as an option, SpaceX has a monopoly on the capability. just thinking out loud. Related questions for anyone who knows: * Can Orion fit on Falcon Heavy/Starship? * Can Crew Dragon support more-than-LEO missions? * Can Falcon Heavy support crewed more-than-LEO missions?

Isinlor 4y ago
Falcon 9 + Crew Dragon and Starliner (hopefully, once it flies) can support Starship in LEO. Then Starship can get you to Lunar and Mars surface. SLS is not pushing SpaceX on anything anymore, because Falcon Heavy took almost everything besides Orion from SLS. That's Falcon Heavy mind you, not Starship. SLS was important for assembling Lunar Gateway. Lunar Gateway itself is useless and was invented for justifying SLS existence. But if we skip that, then funny fact. Lots of pieces of Lunar Gataway will fly on Falcon Heavy! Resupply to Lunar Gateway will also fly with SpaceX on Dragon XL and Falcon Heavy. There was also NASA flagship Europa Clipper mission. But due to lack of available SLS vehicles, NASA shifted it away from SLS and it will fly on Falcon Heavy. You just can't make it up. https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-first-gateway-elements/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-fi... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon#Dragon_XL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon#Dragon_XL