SLS Unveiled

NASA announced today its concept for the new Space Launch System, the rocket mandated by Congress to be built to launch future manned missions into deep space. SLS will be the most powerful rocket since the legendary Saturn V. The first test flight of SLS, which is budgeted at $10 billion, is scheduled for 2017.

Critics of SLS contend that since the cancellation of the Constellation Moon program SLS is a heavy-lift rocket without a purpose. They also point out that private industry is developing a heavy-lift capacity that NASA could use at lower cost than building and maintaining its own new rocket.

In making the announcement, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden noted the SLS program would support "millions" of good-paying jobs. Whatever the technical merits of SLS might be, its fair to wonder how many members of Congress who support the program do so because they see it as a high-tech jobs program.