Thoughts from Eric Berger:
It’s interesting to read critiques of the Moon base proposal, which seems like the smart path forward and could fit within NASA’s budget. The gist I’m hearing from critics is that this Isaacman priority is happy talk, will all fade away, and not happen. Then you realize these…
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) March 25, 2026
I wonder if SLS supporters understand the degree to which, if successful, this is the death knell for that program. As well as Orion.
I remember being in the MER for STS-133 and listening to a grey beard swear that Congress would not let the Space Shuttle program to be cancelled, and that did would fund more flights.
I also remember a year ago when Musk posted something about cancelling ISS and reading the complaints on Facebook of how critical ISS is to US and how ignorant Musk is, from NASA leaders, who spent the last 15 years not coming up with any other successful solution than Musk’s SpaceX to keep ISS flying.
“I wonder if SLS supporters understand the degree to which, if successful, this is the death knell for that program. As well as Orion”
Despite the evidence to the contrary about the attachment to reality amongst that group, I dare posit that the fact they’re so negative on this whole plan is a pretty big indicator that they know just how much their pet pork program is at risk.
Both things can be true, after all.
Maybe they can save SLS with a GoFundMe page?
Let’s hear Issacman explain how SLS moves us even a centimeter closer to a Moon Base.
Couple things.
SLS launches have been rebranded as Artemis launches. The focus is on the program and not the launcher. This is to prepare people for when SLS disappears. Artemis will continue.
Watched the NASA press conference a few days ago and at the very end, someone asked a good question. What is the progress on the new engines? The NASA guy looked a little uncomfortable but said work had already started on them.
Sorry SLS, it was nice knowing you.
It always seemed to me that testing out construction of a Moon base made sense, since we all have zero experience in low-gravity construction in vacuum conditions. Plus the location close to Earth seems like a safety issue as well, rescue and resupply is surely much more timely close by.