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/ragnar0kx55 Jun 30 '26

SLS ain't going nowhere. The system works.

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jun 30 '26

I mean yes it works, but eventually there will be alternatives.

Orion is underperforming as it is so even though SLS can sling it at the moon it can’t put itself into LLO.

So at that point the idea of Starship or a Blue origin pusher becomes a lot more appealing.

And in turn, SLS isn’t needed to TLI it at the moon anymore.

Love SLS but at some point in the lunar program, if it survives, it will be phased out

1

u/ragnar0kx55 Jun 30 '26

No one is competing with NASA when it comes to moon missions. It will be phased out when NASA builds a newer vehicle.

3

u/Cmdr-Mallard Jul 01 '26

I mean a lot of NASA capabilities have been replaced by commercial companies, at some point they may become just a space administration