Catastrophic overspending - NASA to pay $13.1bn instead of $7bn for SLS rocket engines and boosters for Artemis lunar programme

The RS-25 engines from the Space Shuttle and Constellation projects did not help the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) save money on the Artemis lunar programme. An inspector at the federal agency found catastrophic cost overruns.

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The manufacturers of the engines for the Artemis lunar programme are Aerojet Rocketdyne and Northrop Grumman. The space agency has consistently turned a blind eye to rising propulsion costs and shifting readiness dates. This has resulted in huge cost overruns.

NASA has signed four contracts to produce engines for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The agreement amounted to $7 billion and a lead time of 14 years. However, according to a new projection, the contract will not be fulfilled until a quarter of a century later and the cost will rise to $13.1bn.

According to NASA's inspector, the space agency must take measures to protect the budget. Otherwise, costs will continue to rise, while deadlines will continue to be pushed back.

On the other hand, NASA claims insufficient funding, which negatively affects the development of the Artemis programme. Specifically, the space agency will receive $41.5 billion from fiscal year 2024 to 2028.

The second Artemis mission will take place late next year. Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will orbit the moon and return to Earth. A landing is planned for 2025, but there is no guarantee that the Artemis III mission will take place on time.

Source: space