re: Who is ready for Artemis I? November edition

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How far behind schedule is Artemis?

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First crew launch was supposed to be in 2016.
Officials in 2012 estimated that the SLS rocket would cost $6 billion to develop, debut in 2017 and carry a $500 million per launch price tag. But the rocket is only just now debuting, having cost more than $20 billion to develop, and its per launch price tag has ballooned to $4.1 billion.

NASA’s Inspector General, its internal auditor, earlier this year said Artemis is not the “sustainable” moon program that the agency’s officials say it is. The watchdog found more than $40 billion has already been spent on the program, and projected NASA would spend $93 billion on the effort through 2025 – when the first landing is planned.

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While we want to see it launch, because rockets are cool. This program should have been killed so long ago.

SpaceX Falcon 9 was an initial $300 million to first launch. More has been spent since, but they have already started recouping development costs with working rockets for commercial use.

SLS uses existing technology, some dating back to 1970s. The goal to only make it to moon and 11 years in the works.

Starship is estimated to be $5-10 billion with a goal to make it to Mars. It really started in 2018 and should launch a rocket this year.

NASA needs to get out of rocket business and focus on the scientific side of space.