NASA Moon Plan Approved by Congress Despite Musk & Isaacman Opposition

Artemis Program Receives Significant Funding Boost

Major players in the aerospace industry achieved a victory on Tuesday with the U.S. Senate’s approval of President Trump’s budget reconciliation bill. This legislation allocates several billion dollars to NASA’s Artemis program.

Increased Investment in SLS and Gateway

The addition of $10 billion to the Artemis architecture provides funding for additional Space Launch System (SLS) rockets and the lunar orbiting station, Gateway. This decision represents a rejection of calls for the adoption of alternative technologies.

Critics of the current approach include SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who was previously suggested by Musk as a potential NASA administrator.

Deteriorating Relationship Between Musk and Trump

There are currently no indications of improvement in the relationship between Musk and Trump. Should the president sign the bill into law, the existing tensions – stemming from the withdrawal of Isaacman’s nomination – are likely to persist, potentially even worsening.

SLS Rocket Costs and Reusability Concerns

Musk has been particularly critical of the SLS rocket, citing its fully expendable nature. Unlike SpaceX’s rockets, designed for reusability, SLS is used only once per launch.

Musk estimated in 2020 that each launch effectively destroys a $1 billion rocket. However, recent reports from NASA’s oversight body suggest the actual production cost is closer to $2.5 billion per rocket.

Significant Investment in SLS Production

To date, approximately $24 billion has been invested in SLS production. These funds have largely benefited major aerospace contractors, including Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne (a subsidiary of L3Harris), and Northrop Grumman, the primary builder of the rocket’s core components.

Isaacman’s Perspective on Long-Term Lunar and Martian Travel

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Isaacman raised questions about the substantial financial commitment. He supported the use of SLS for the next two Artemis missions, but expressed doubt about its viability as a long-term solution for frequent travel to the Moon and Mars.

Allocation of the Additional Funding

If enacted, the bill will allocate around $4.1 billion towards additional SLS rockets for Artemis missions 4 and 5. Approximately $2.6 billion will be directed towards the completion of the Gateway station.

Reversal of Prior Budgetary Proposals

President Trump’s initial fiscal year budget request, submitted in May, proposed phasing out the SLS and Orion spacecraft after the Artemis III mission. This new funding directly contradicts that earlier proposal, which preceded the public disagreement between Musk and Trump in June.

Additional Funding for Other Space Initiatives

The bill also includes $700 million for a new Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. Furthermore, $1.25 billion is allocated for continued operation of the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX is set to receive $325 million – part of a total $843 million award – for developing a spacecraft to safely de-orbit the ISS at the end of the decade.