NASA recognises the huge cost of SLS moon rockets - engines for SLS cost dozens of times more than those for SpaceX rockets

The US authorities have once again raised the issue of the financial component of the Artemis lunar programme. In particular, it was about the high cost of Space Launch System (SLS) rockets.

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NASA recognises that lunar rockets are expensive and create a big burden on the US budget. The space agency has decided not to keep track of the cost of manufacturing components for the SLS, which the US Government Accountability Office didn't like.

The federal space agency wants to track the production and availability costs of the SLS project using five-year estimates. The Audit Chamber believes that this approach would make it difficult to assess the costs and effectiveness of the programme.

It should also be noted that NASA does not take delays into account. For example, the Artemis II mission will take place in 2025, not 2024. At the same time, the lunar landing planned for Artemis III won't happen until 2026. Delays will also drive up costs, although NASA officials don't think so.

Nevertheless, space agency officials have acknowledged the problem of the high cost of SLS. To reduce costs, NASA wants to stabilise the launch schedule, encourage innovation, achieve efficiencies in production mastery and change its procurement strategy.

NASA and Aerojet will try to cut propulsion costs by a third. The RS-25 engine is expected to cost $70.5 million by the end of the decade. By comparison, the BE-4 costs Blue Origin less than $20 million, and SpaceX plans to make Raptor engines cheaper than $1 million.

Source: Ars Techinca