This is the real power of space commercialism. It’s not just about cheaper hardware but, in the absence of any other leadership, is about producing vision that hardware is intended to serve.

Their schedule was pretty much only near term, instead of planning missions in stepping stone fashion, that test key technologies and systems needed for human exploration of Mars. What about a plan for a habitation module, artificial gravity systems for the months long journey to Mars, life support systems in deep space, advanced propulsion systems to shorten the trip time, advanced entry systems to enter the Martian atmosphere at lowest mass possible, other entry methods to land more than just 2 tons, surface habitation systems, roving vehicles, and other key elements? Where’s the plant phase development and testing of each system in an orderly manner so that we actually do achieve a crewed Mars landing inthe 2030s?

And don’t point to this asteroid redirect mission. It’s a stunt, a single mission at that, with little applicability to human Mars exploration, in my view. I haven’t heard of a good explanation as to how this mission supports the goal to send humans to Mars, only statements that it does. That is, beyond being different target than the Moon, how is this a stepping stone? Yes, the SLS and Orion will be tested, but that’s not enough for a serious humans to Mars plan. What utility is SEP to landing on or even orbiting humans around Mars? SEP might be good for cargo missions, but how will an SEP system, designed to move a small asteroid, be directly applicable to sending humans to Mars? SEP trajectories imply slow spirals, which increases travel time, the opposite of what’s needed. We need to prove out systems for both long duration space travel and surface stays, not one-off stunts. And I don’t see a plan to do that, from either current NASA leadership or the WH. So no, they haven’t addressed the long term with a mission-driven strategy, even at the key technology level. That lack of a plan is not just pathetic, it is deliberate, in my view, on the part of our so called leaders. It’s deliberate either because the leadership is incompetent on space exploration matters, and left the long term plan blank because they don’t know what to do next, or they don’t care.

“I’m just glad there are people out there who see our lame space program for what it is.”

Space is a big place, so not having a consensus about where to go should not surprise you.

Space is also a very expensive place to operate in, so expecting our politicians to be spending lavishly on space should not surprise you either, especially when there isn’t some sort of National Imperative creating a sense of urgency like the Cold War did (and no, Putin’s escapades do not rise to the level of the Cold War).

So it should definitely not be a surprise when our politicians cannot figure what to do with the most expensive rocket the U.S. has built in generations. And just because the SLS is a smaller version of the Ares V doesn’t mean that going to the Moon is any less expensive or quicker than what the Constellation program was going to do (i.e. $100B and 20 years down the road).

Any exploration plan that does not focus on initial costs and sustainable costs is doomed to fail. And the SLS and MPCV fail both of those tests.

Congress did nothing.

The White House did exactly what this letter asks. Time for Congress to stop blaming everyone else but themselves for their failure to act.

The implicit goal of human spaceflight is colonization and settlement. That’s a solid argument for human spaceflight, but one that Congress won’t touch with a ten foot pole, and no administration has shown any passion for.