# The Next Chapter of NASA’s Artemis Initiative: Moving Away from the SLS Rocket
NASA’s Artemis initiative, aimed at bringing humans back to the Moon and eventually facilitating Mars exploration, finds itself at a pivotal moment. A recent insight from Scott Pace, a prominent expert in space policy and former executive secretary of the National Space Council, advocates for NASA to reassess its dependence on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. His remarks signify a noteworthy change in the space policy scenario, promoting a shift towards commercial heavy-lift launch providers.
## The Evolving Landscape of Space Discovery
For more than ten years, the SLS has served as NASA’s primary heavy-lift rocket, engineered to transport astronauts and supplies to the Moon and further. Nevertheless, its development has faced numerous delays and budget excesses. Initially, policymakers, including Pace, endorsed the SLS due to the absence of commercial alternatives. The landscape has shifted considerably, with private entities like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance now creating their own heavy-lift rockets.
Pace contends that NASA should depart from the SLS, opting to procure heavy-lift services from commercial entities instead. He proposes that NASA could send payloads weighing up to 45 metric tons to trans-lunar injection—on par with the SLS Block 2—utilizing rockets developed by the private sector.
## The Argument for Phasing Out the SLS
One of the primary critiques of the SLS is its lack of reusability. In contrast to SpaceX’s Starship, engineered for complete reusability, the SLS is a one-time use rocket, rendering it costly and impractical for frequent lunar expeditions. Pace underscores that the SLS has been operational only once and struggles to achieve even one launch annually, much less the congressional target of two launches per year.
Historically, Congress has backed the SLS because it preserves jobs at NASA facilities and in important political constituencies. However, with commercial spaceflight becoming more practicable, ongoing funding for the SLS may no longer represent the most effective application of taxpayer funds.
## A Renewed Artemis Approach
Pace’s suggestions extend beyond merely substituting the SLS. He proposes that NASA should overhaul its entire Artemis strategy to guarantee long-term viability. This entails:
– **Enhancing dependence on commercial launch providers** to facilitate numerous crewed and cargo missions to the Moon annually.
– **Reassessing NASA’s budget priorities**, emphasizing innovation over sustaining conventional programs.
– **Contemplating an early decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS)** before 2030 to allocate resources for deep-space endeavors.
These recommendations resonate with a broader evolution in space policy that stresses public-private partnerships. By leveraging commercial space capabilities, NASA can curtail expenses and expedite its agenda for lunar and Mars exploration.
## The Vision for the Future: Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Pace envisions a scenario where human habitation on the Moon and Mars becomes tangible. In the short term, lunar outposts may take on the characteristics of Antarctic research stations, acting as centers for scientific inquiry and technology experimentation. Over time, these bases could develop into self-sufficient communities, similar to the transformation of the American frontier through railroad expansion.
While a manned landing on Mars may not be within reach in the coming five years, Pace believes that a Mars flyby or a sample return mission could be realizable. Ultimately, he posits that space exploration’s aim should transcend mere competition for Mars; it should represent a long-term vision for human expansion across the Solar System.
## Conclusion
Scott Pace’s advocacy for a reimagined Artemis approach marks a significant transformation in NASA’s strategy towards space exploration. Shifting from the SLS and embracing commercial heavy-lift rockets has the potential to render lunar and Mars missions more sustainable and economically viable. As NASA gears up for the next phase of Artemis, policymakers must consider the advantages of preserving traditional programs in light of the opportunities emerging from the swiftly evolving commercial space sector.
The future of space exploration is no longer simply under the purview of governmental agencies—it is being defined by a new age of public-private partnership.
