SpaceX's Dragon to the Moon instead of NASA's $2B SLS Launch...
SpaceX's Dragon to the Moon instead of NASA's $2B SLS Launch...
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SpaceX's Dragon to the Moon instead of NASA's $2B SLS Launch...
The SLS lunar rocket program is now at risk of being canceled at any moment.
As a result, many are looking for alternatives to this expensive and repeatedly delayed rocket.
Naturally, Starship is the first name that comes to mind. However, while Starship is still in the testing phase and not yet ready for immediate mission deployment, is there another way for the United States to return to the Moon quickly?
Well, an excellent proposal that has long captured the attention of the space community is resurfacing – SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
So, how would Crew Dragon land on the moon?
Why isn't NASA utilizing this vehicle to expedite a lunar mission?
Let’s find out on today’s episode of Alpha Tech:
SpaceX's Dragon to the Moon instead of NASA's $2B SLS Launch...
At the forefront of NASA's current lunar mission strategy is the combined deployment of the Orion spacecraft and the SLS, envisioned as the backbone for transporting astronauts to the Moon.
However, the execution of this plan has encountered significant obstacles.
Recently, Boeing—the primary contractor for the SLS program—alerted 800 employees involved in its development about the potential layoff of up to 400 staff members due to the SLS program's possible cancellation by the government.
This highlights the dire state of the program, to the point where Boeing has resorted to last-ditch efforts, lobbying officials and organizations to rally support in a bid to save this Moon rocket.
To be frank, while NASA has yet to make an official announcement, the cancellation of SLS seems to be only a matter of time.
SpaceX's Dragon to the Moon instead of NASA's $2B SLS Launch...
In reality, SLS has been mired in years of development delays and budget overruns. The rocket's first launch was initially planned for 2016 but was delayed by six years before finally taking flight—and has only launched once to date. This indicates that technical issues with the rocket hardware can be quite time-consuming.
Of course, along with it comes the loss of finances.
From its inception in 2011 through the year of its first flight, the Space Launch System rocket program has cost $23.8 billion. The Orion deep space capsule has cost $20.4 billion since the program began in 2006. Related ground infrastructure upgrades cost an additional $5.7 billion since 2012. In total, NASA spent $49.9 billion on these programs between 2006 and their first test launch in 2022, exceeding the initial estimates by more than 42.5%.
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