SLS/Orion will provide a rocket and crew module that can safely get to lunar orbit and back. HLS lunar ship is our lander that will land up to 4 astronauts on the moon at a time. That’s what we have and both will be flying well into the 2030’s and beyond.
This should be celebrated as it is allowing more time on the lunar service per year, offers more payload to the surface and has a sustainable budget to accomplish NASA’s goals. So, shut up about it. Thanks
@Cosmic_Andrew1 I'm skeptical of the viability of SpaceX's sci-fi supersized stainless steel can. I think we'll need to fund Blue Origin or another more realistic lander provider.
@Cosmic_Andrew1 The main advantage of the spx lander is its huge payload mass to the lunar surface. If you wanna build a big station on the surface, this is the vehicle to make it happen.
@Cosmic_Andrew1 But the FAA wants to shut down STARSHIP for SLS rrrrrreeeeee
@Cosmic_Andrew1 I like the set up honestly. SLS will make more sense later in its life when it can co-manifest larger payloads to the moon. Starship is still my favorite option for the landers, I think it will be fantastic and accelerate the time it takes to build the base.
@Cosmic_Andrew1 How long this setup is viable is going to depend entirely on how quickly SpaceX can master orbital refueling and get a rapid launch schedule of Starship. Once that happens, SLS stops making much sense.
@Cosmic_Andrew1 Rather than up to four, it is at least the capability for four. Internally it should be developed in the direction of supporting a moon base.
@Cosmic_Andrew1 If Starship works out. I think it likely will in some form, but how close that is to what they're aiming for now, I have no idea. I suppose its capabilities could be pretty drastically reduced and still fulfill it's HLS duties, as long as orbital refueling works out.