Artemis II Launch

Writing this as we watch the Artemis II launch. It’s cool seeing a NASA-built rocket take flight. In a world increasingly reliant on private companies, I think it’s important to see state-run space programs still building their own vehicles. Space exploration and the scientific advancements it facilitates shouldn’t be solely in the hands of billionaire privateers.

However, it seems insane to me that NASA is investing so much in a single-use vehicle. In a world where Space X has reused one of their boosters 34 times, I can’t believe the rocket we saw launch today is just…done. It will never fly again. Even components that were reused during the Shuttle era are being discarded.

While some of the technology on display here, such as the launch abort system, is undeniably innovative, some aspects can’t help but feel like a step back when compared to the goals of the Shuttle. NASA and other state-run programs can’t hope to compete with their privateer rivals if they are starting from scratch at every launch.

Anyway, everyone should go check out cosmic.voyage.