NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which was meant to replace the Space Shuttle program and serve as the primary launch vehicle for the Artemis Moon landing program, is facing an uncertain future. The company Boeing has announced plans to reduce the workforce of hundreds of employees working on the project by approximately 400 positions by April 2025.
The decision was made in response to revisions to the Artemis program and cost expectations. Employees affected will receive 60-day notices of involuntary layoff, with the aim of minimizing job losses and redeploying them across the company. NASA has stated that it is working closely with Boeing to address the impact on the project.
The SLS rocket has faced numerous delays and cost overruns since its initial launch in 2016. The Artemis II mission, a planned crewed mission around the Moon, was postponed until no earlier than 2026 due to these issues.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has criticized NASA’s focus on returning to the Moon as a “distraction,” advocating instead for a Mars-first strategy. China is also planning to return to the Moon by 2030, with plans to establish a lunar base.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson had warned about China’s ambitions, stating that landing on the lunar south pole was crucial to preventing any portions of it from being ceded to the Chinese. The agency is currently working with its contractors to realign budget and resources for the Artemis campaign.
Janet Petro is overseeing NASA operations until Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA, is confirmed by the Senate. SpaceX has faced recent challenges, including a Starship spacecraft explosion during a test flight, which may impact the agency’s plans for lunar missions starting with Artemis III in late 2027.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/future-nasa-mega-moon-rocket-050656952.html