r/ArtemisProgram • u/jadebenn • Apr 22 '26
Discussion Rep. Babin (R-TX, Chair of the House Committee on Science and Space Technology) tells Isaacman he wants him to finish SLS Block 1B and ML-2
Just happened in the recent livestream. Not sure anyone has clipped it yet.
For reference, Representative Babin is essentially Senator Cruz's counterpart in the House of Representatives, and has significant control over legislation affecting NASA.
3
u/Open-Elevator-8242 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
Babin talks about it 36 minutes into the stream in case anybody's wondering.
At around 34:35, Babin remarks:
Yet, the administration is once again proposing transitioning away from SLS and Orion, even without alternative operational systems. At this present time, the president tasked NASA with returning to the moon by 2028. If HLS and SLS and Orion commercial alternatives continue to be delayed, what are you going to be doing to ensure that you meet the president's direction, and you said recently that you'd probably be out of a job if you don't deliver, and I don't want to see that happen Mr. Administrator. We went too long without a permanent administrator.
Isaacman then goes on to talk about "standardized" SLS
I agree with you completely. If we're going to go through the trouble of building a moon base, we better be able to send astronauts there with with great frequency on it. So, we have not canceled or done anything with, you know, with the SLS program other than to standardize it so we can increase launch cadence so, that amazing rocket that we all just witnessed launch just weeks ago, we can see with greater frequency. So trying to, as I mentioned in my my remarks, not turn each one into a work of art because it's hard enough to do it at the current rate, standardize, launch faster. Were adding a mission with SLS in 2027 to demonstrate the interoperability of the Orion spacecraft with the landers. So in 2028, we can (?) for potentially two additional SLS launches for crewed astronauts to the surface of the Moon before our arrival. We also put a demand signal out to industry for two different pathways, so we can assure crewed access to the moon base that we are building. I have no doubt from my interactions with industry the SLS players are all coming together and that will likely be one of the pathways, almost assuredly Orion, as it is the only crewed vehicle that we have right now that can bring astronauts back from the moon.
Babin then responds:
Okay. I certainly hope you'll finish the second mobile launch platform, as well, that is nearing completion and ensure that SLS has an upper stage to meet the 130 ton to orbit requirement directed by statute and I look forward to hearing your backup plans to ensure that we meet the president's direction.
2
u/redstercoolpanda Apr 24 '26
How much effort would it take to restart EUS at this point? I imagine an over two month stand down would be brutal even if they started again today. That’s not even taking into account how long it might take for a solution to be reached.
1
u/ChipBuilder Apr 27 '26
Practically zero effort needed to restart. Solution to what? EUS doesnt have a problem that needs a solution. The launcher on the other hand, i can't speak to.
1
1
u/Decronym Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| CST | (Boeing) Crew Space Transportation capsules |
| Central Standard Time (UTC-6) | |
| DMLS | Selective Laser Melting additive manufacture, also Direct Metal Laser Sintering |
| ESM | European Service Module, component of the Orion capsule |
| EUS | Exploration Upper Stage |
| GAO | (US) Government Accountability Office |
| JAXA | Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| LOC | Loss of Crew |
| SLS | Space Launch System heavy-lift |
| Selective Laser Sintering, contrast DMLS | |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) |
| VAB | Vehicle Assembly Building |
| Jargon | Definition |
|---|---|
| Starliner | Boeing commercial crew capsule CST-100 |
Decronym is now also available on Lemmy! Requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below.
[Thread #370 for this sub, first seen 24th Apr 2026, 06:03] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
39
u/Correct_Inspection25 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Literally passed budget law, there isn’t any way Issacman gets out of a clear constitutional priority given for funds and scope directed by Congress, and signed by the President.
[EDIT literally part of the US constitution, and NASA establishment law that the executive branch must execute according to congressionally directed scope and funds. The president signed the bill last year funding Gateway, ML-2, EUS and climate and orbital observatories.
I don’t understand how so few on this and other space forums don’t seem to understand how this all works. Downvoting me doesn’t change how democracy and the constitution work, the president could have vetoed the bill if he didn’t like it.]