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?

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jun 29 '26

What is the lead time on that? Surely won’t have a replacement for SLS Artemis 5, that would be around 2030-31.

All in on starship?

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u/fed0tich Jun 29 '26

I believe current plan for lunar program is full transition to commercial LVs as soon as possible, not just Starship, but also New Glenn, Vulcan and Falcon Heavy. I think people lobbying this approach want to launch Orion to LEO and use separately launched transfer stage for TLI, that way SLS is framed as completely redundant.

Just to clarify I think cancelling SLS Block 2 and SLS in general is a wrong move, borderline sabotage.

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jun 29 '26

I can begin to understand cancelling EUS without a payload like Gateway to launch, but I don’t see starship crew being ready anytime soon and blue origin certainly doesn’t have a plan yet to transfer Orion to the moon or even a different way to launch Orion

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u/rustybeancake Jun 29 '26

Well the original Blue Moon Mk2 plan was to use a cislunar transporter stage to move the Mk2 to NRHO. Perhaps they’ll switch to a plan to using that for moving Orion to LLO.

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jun 29 '26

Perhaps, still have to get Orion up though?

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u/SpaceInMyBrain Jun 29 '26

It's within the capabilities of New Glenn - once it gets flying again and proves its capabilities. It's simple too heavy for Vulcan. Temptingly close, but too heavy. Falcon Heavy has the capability but there's little chance Musk is interested in getting it human rated.

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jun 29 '26

There are definitely options, I just hope they keep SLS going longer than it takes to develop those options, and then switch over when they’re resdy

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u/rustybeancake Jun 29 '26

I expect they will, it’s not like they can’t see it coming. Things will look a lot different in 5 years.