NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket program is facing uncertainty after the primary contractor, Boeing, warned that contracts could end in March and layoffs may be necessary. The company issued 60-day notices to affected employees due to revisions to the Artemis program and cost expectations.
Boeing’s vice president and SLS program manager, David Dutcher, called an emergency meeting with 800 employees on short notice, stating that contracts might not be renewed. This has led to concerns among NASA officials and commercial space advocates about the future of the program.
There is a debate within the White House and senior leadership at NASA about canceling the SLS rocket outright. However, acting administrator Janet Petro has urged the White House to allow NASA to fly Artemis II and III missions using the initial version of the SLS rocket before any cancellation decisions are made.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/boeing-has-informed-its-employees-that-nasa-may-cancel-sls-contracts