NASA abandons delayed SLS upper stage for ULA's Centaur V instead NASA has selected United Launch Alliance's Centaur V upper stage for the Artemis missions that aim to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. The space agency will use the Centaur V, currently flying as the upper stage of ULA's Vulcan rocket, for Artemis IV and V, both slated for 2028. A flight …
Being a design from the 1960s, Centaur upper stages already launched (among others) Helios 1, Viking 1, Viking 2, Helios 2, Voyager 1, and Voyager 2.
It has constantly being adapted and has a proven success record.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_(rocket_stage)#Centaur_V
Despite the many successes that NASA has had, the programme resembles many of those in the past that have suffered not only from being too ambitious, but earmarks for favoured contractors and constant political interference in the mission scope.
NASA still haven't got a pointy bit for their planned hoped-for moonshot. Now they have decided to swap the middle bit for a solution that was developed privately, leaving only the bottom stage as being original Artemis material. Though even that relies on Space Scuttle era engines and SRBs.
Isn't it time they just gave up on a bad job, done poorly?
SLS has been doing a fine job of spreading tax payers' money around the preferred contractors. The big change is that instead on spending money on EUS and ML2 that will never be delivered the money goes on multiple SLS launches and Centaur V's that might actually happen. Same money, same destinations so the important boxes are ticked.
You know that it's Musk and SpaceX building the HLS/pointy-bit right?... If it was anyone else, I think we'd be calling it out as vapourware already, with zero chance of being operationally ready and human-rated by next year. But NASA seem to be screwed because they're not allowed to point at SpaceX and say "they're clearly lying"
What rock have you been hiding under? NASA called for proposals to land humans on the Moon faster then Starship HLS or Blue Moon mk 2. Sean Duffy was administrator at the time so pick your reasons:
The 2024 date (end of Trump's second term) was obvious rubbish in 2016. At that time, 2028 was possible and Biden winning and election made that date the end of Trump's second term. Congress took their time funding HLS and space suits. 2030 is looking like a more likely date. As Trump intends to be president for life it is not clear if that date suits his purpose. The three obvious challenges at HLS, Space suits and SLS. All will be late but it is not clear which will be latest. SLS has reliability issues that are being worked on. HLS needs more powerful engines that should fly real soon now. The space suits were funded very late for such a complex problem.
No wonder costs are ballooning out of control!
According to this article NASA not only has this so-called Human Landing System under construction, they have a secret Elephant Landing System in the works!
WHY must the American Taxpayer fund this unnecessary project to put pachyderms on the Moon?
It's probably the modern update of the 60's theoretical work for putting spherical cows in a vacuum...
Is anyone reminded of plot points from the 60's comedy Mouse on the Moon over this saga?
I think Rutland* should start a space program. they'd have a sporting chance at this rate.
*Nothing against Rutland, perfectly pleasant place but one of the lesser likely counties to start a space program from.
NASA releases update on SpaceX and Blue Origin lander systems, this is after their behind closed door visits and reviews,
About the only positive is that fixed price contract is working and budget is under control. And that is the end of the good news, conflicts about manual controls, complexity, both landers are behind schedule, lots of unproven tech, HLS will need minimum 10 refuelling mission, blue origin will need multiple refuelling, neither has tested technology, there is more but suffice to say that my money is now on Chinese as their mission is much less ambitious (basically Apollo) and currently further behind.
https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/final-report-ig-26-004-nasas-management-of-the-human-landing-system-contracts.pdf
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/nasa-and-spacex-disagree-about-manual-controls-for-lunar-lander/
