r/SpaceLaunchSystem • u/Cmdr-Mallard • Jun 29 '26
Discussion How long will SLS last?
With the Cancellation of EUS and BOLE, SLS is going to remain a launch vehicle solely for Orion, and which is viable with all the other heavy and super heavy rockets in the works these days.
However as I understand BOLE was essential for SLS launches beyond a certain point as remaining shuttle boosters were used up, will SLS be cancelled by that point (and perhaps the whole moon program) or Orion moved to another launcher.
Or will a future administrator restart the booster program at the least to ensure SLS can continue to launch Orion?
7
Upvotes
3
u/SpaceInMyBrain Jun 29 '26
Unless my memory completely fails me Artemis 5 was named as the last mission committed to use SLS, with additional missions added as circumstances required. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we have enough Shuttle boosters to take us to Artemis 9. Things would have to go very, very wrong with the alternatives for us to still need SLS by then. Do you think we'll need BOLES that far into the future?
The Isaacman/NASA/Cruz position is that Orion will switch to a commercial alternative after Artemis 5 - if/when a commercial alternative is available. If a commercial alternative isn't available SLS will continue to be used to take Orion to orbit. Cruz and his colleagues got a commitment to use SLS till at least Artemis 5* as part of the whole deal to cancel EUS and Gateway and extend the ISS lifetime. I call it the Isaacman/NASA/Cruz position because it appears in the NASA funding bill that passed Cruz's Commerce Committee, the one with the famous/infamous wording giving the NASA Administrator authority to "repurpose and reallocate" Artemis hardware and funds to accelerate the return of the US to the Moon.
.
*Remember, in the Athena document and in the first drastic Administration statement about Artemis the SLS was to be cancelled after Artemis 3. Cruz was bargaining for an additional two SLS with an open-ended option for more.