SpaceX's recent Starship 6 launch has prompted analysts to question the future of NASA's Space Launch System program."Starship will be used to land astronauts on the lunar surface of NASA's Artemis III mission," SpaceX posted after the launch."Starship's success is Artemis' success. Together, we will return humanity to the moon," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.Analysts are now raising questions about the future of the SLS program, given that Starship has launched six times."And that is the lunar lander for NASA. NASA wants the SLS to the crew as early as next year... it probably won't happen though... on Artemis II. So, there's a lot of uncertainty," said Ken Kremer of SpaceUpClose.com.Artemis I blasted off two years ago, but massive cost overruns in the billions and long delays have bogged down the program.Kremer is the managing editor of SpaceUpClose.com. He said having President-elect Donald Trump witness Tuesday's launch in Texas is bad news for the current state of SLS. "There's a lot of uncertainty with the new administration if they would even continue the Artemis Program. And if they stop the Artemis program, there are going to be many, many, many thousands of people... tens of thousands of people across this country would lose their jobs," Kremer said.Eric Berger, author of two books on the rise of SpaceX, wrote on X, "Based on what I'm hearing, it seems at least 50-50 that NASA's Space Launch System rocket will be canceled.""That would have a truly, absolutely terrible impact on local economy here in Brevard County," Kremer said.The future of the SLS program will become more clear in the coming weeks. However, analysts say at a minimum, the full picture on the future of the program will take shape by next spring. SpaceX said it will launch Starship 7 in early 2025.
SpaceX's recent Starship 6 launch has prompted analysts to question the future of NASA's Space Launch System program.
"Starship will be used to land astronauts on the lunar surface of NASA's Artemis III mission," SpaceX posted after the launch.
"Starship's success is Artemis' success. Together, we will return humanity to the moon," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Analysts are now raising questions about the future of the SLS program, given that Starship has launched six times.
"And that is the lunar lander for NASA. NASA wants the SLS to the crew as early as next year... it probably won't happen though... on Artemis II. So, there's a lot of uncertainty," said Ken Kremer of SpaceUpClose.com.
Artemis I blasted off two years ago, but massive cost overruns in the billions and long delays have bogged down the program.
Kremer is the managing editor of SpaceUpClose.com. He said having President-elect Donald Trump witness Tuesday's launch in Texas is bad news for the current state of SLS.
"There's a lot of uncertainty with the new administration if they would even continue the Artemis Program. And if they stop the Artemis program, there are going to be many, many, many thousands of people... tens of thousands of people across this country would lose their jobs," Kremer said.
Eric Berger, author of two books on the rise of SpaceX, wrote on X, "Based on what I'm hearing, it seems at least 50-50 that NASA's Space Launch System rocket will be canceled."
"That would have a truly, absolutely terrible impact on local economy here in Brevard County," Kremer said.
The future of the SLS program will become more clear in the coming weeks. However, analysts say at a minimum, the full picture on the future of the program will take shape by next spring.