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edpell
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Is 18 billion dollars for the first two launches of the SLS a good buy? It seems NASA could buy the same weight to orbit today from Space-X for about 0.6 billion dollars. Why not just use the existing provider?
As of 2021, NASA's estimated budget for the first two launches of the Space Launch System (SLS) is approximately $18 billion. This includes the development, testing, and launch of the rocket as well as the Orion spacecraft.
SLS is NASA's next-generation heavy-lift rocket designed to carry astronauts and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and other deep space destinations. It will also be used to launch components of the Lunar Gateway, a small space station in orbit around the Moon.
As of now, there are three planned launches of SLS: Artemis I, II, and III. Artemis I is an uncrewed test flight that will launch the Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight, and Artemis III will carry astronauts to the lunar surface.
SLS is the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA, with a maximum payload capacity of over 130 metric tons. It is even more powerful than the Saturn V rocket used for the Apollo missions. In comparison, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy has a maximum payload capacity of 64 metric tons.
The first launch of SLS, Artemis I, is currently scheduled for November 2021. However, this date has been delayed multiple times and is subject to change. The second launch, Artemis II, is expected to take place in 2023.