NASA finally admits what everyone already knows: SLS is unaffordable::“At current cost levels the SLS program is unsustainable.”

    • InverseParallax@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Can I ask: do you actually believe NASA builds their own rockets themselves? Like out back in their shed with a table saw and pliers?

      The prime contractor on the sls is boeing.

    • weew@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      If NASA cancelled every single contact they had with SpaceX… they might be able to afford 1/3rd of an SLS launch. Or maybe not, because then they’d have to start paying Russians for rides up to the ISS.

      SpaceX is saving NASA boatloads of money. Which Congress is forcing them to waste on SLS.

    • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      SpaceX is getting 2-3 bn dollars for Starship HLS development, most of the funding is coming from SpaceX itself. SLS costs up to 4 bn per flight. I’m not even going to mention the insane cost-overruns and years of delays associated with NASA’s cost-plus contract with Boeing to build the damn thing.

      SLS is a sunk cost fallacy and jobs program.

    • Quacksalber@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Even then, commercial launch providers get much further with less money. Sure, if NASA had more budget, they could afford the SLS program. But the commercial launch providers show that they could be more efficient with the money they do have.

    • MrSpArkle@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      That would destroy US space capabilities. Just because Elon is a racist dipshit doesn’t mean we should stop building the best rockets in the world.

      Honestly if we have less money to Boeing and more to spacex, NASA would be way better off.