The project is not yet ready, despite the successful launch of the rocket
NASA’s SLS super-heavy booster is already over budget by $6 billion and six years behind schedule, according to a recent report.
A recent report generated by the NASA Inspector General’s review indicates that NASA’s spending on the Artemis program will reach $93 billion by 2025, including the $23.8 billion already spent on SLS through 2022.
NASA SLS launch vehicle over budget by $6 billion
Despite a successful first run earlier this year, the Inspector notes that the project involves additional costs and a further shift in the schedule. Moreover, if the existing problems are not resolved in time, this may jeopardize the entire mission of Artemis.
As for delays, five of the six years of delay, as well as an additional almost $ 2 billion, fell on Northrop Grumman accelerators. The bottom line is that the SLS project initially involved the partial use of old equipment from the time of the Space Shuttle program. Of course, with the necessary upgrades. Northrop Grumman boosters were one such element.
Among other things, the inspector blames the “cost plus” pricing method for the situation and recommends switching to fixed prices. In general, NASA agreed with all eight of the inspector’s recommendations.
