Boeing has abruptly shut down its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket program, leaving NASA and lawmakers scrambling for answers. The surprise move was announced just six minutes after an all-hands meeting, which was called by Boeing’s vice president and program manager, David Dutcher.
According to reports, NASA headquarters was caught off guard when the news first broke, with some suggesting that Boeing made the announcement in an attempt to pressure lawmakers into saving the SLS program before the White House takes action. The sudden decision has sparked concern among those who had hoped to see the development of a new heavy-lift rocket capable of carrying crew and cargo to deep space destinations.
The SLS program was intended to be a key component of NASA’s Artemis program, with plans for the rocket to play a crucial role in sending humans back to the Moon by 2025. However, with Boeing’s sudden shutdown, it is now unclear what the future holds for the program and whether NASA will need to find an alternative provider to carry out its deep space ambitions.
As one commenter noted on Twitter, “It’s looking increasingly likely that SLS is being ‘saved’ as a legacy program rather than a cutting-edge solution for deep space exploration.” The move has significant implications for NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon and beyond, and it remains to be seen how lawmakers and other stakeholders will respond to Boeing’s sudden announcement.
Source: https://nasawatch.com/cev-calv-lsam-eds/so-long-sls-and-gateway-orion-artemis