HOUSTON — Recently, two former NASA officials shared their thoughts with a House committee about the Artemis lunar exploration program. They had different ideas about how to improve it, but both agreed on one key point: getting humans back to the moon is essential for future missions to Mars.
During a February 26 hearing, Scott Pace, who used to work with the National Space Council, suggested that NASA should reduce its dependence on the Space Launch System (SLS). He believes it’s too expensive and not reusable enough. “We need to think about alternatives to traveling from Earth to the moon,” he said, asking for more flexible options for launches.
Pace emphasized that human space missions must be sustainable and continuous. “We can’t just go to the moon once and call it a success. We need a lasting presence,” he added. He recommended that the new NASA administrator focus on revising the Artemis plan, even if it means making tough decisions with industry partners.
On the other hand, Dan Dumbacher, a former NASA deputy associate administrator, expressed doubts about using SpaceX’s Starship for landing astronauts on the moon. He pointed out that the current plan involves a staggering number of launches to make it possible. “Can we realistically pull off 40 launches and a complex new fuel station by 2030?” he asked. He thinks the chances of success are very slim.
Dumbacher noted that China is racing to put astronauts on the moon by 2030, and they have a good track record of meeting their space goals. He suggested that NASA develop a simpler lander that could reach the moon without needing multiple complex launches. However, he didn’t provide specifics on what that would look like or how much it might cost.
While Pace didn’t call for an outright end to the SLS program, he acknowledged that continuing down the current path could result in delays. “The cores for Artemis 2 and 3 are already being built. Changing plans now could push us past 2030,” he said. He believes that by Artemis 4, NASA should be exploring more sustainable options for a moon presence.
Both experts agreed that returning to the moon is a crucial step toward Mars missions, especially in light of ambitions from leaders like Elon Musk, who aims to accelerate crewed Mars missions. “We need to focus on what’s best for the country: the moon first, then Mars,” Dumbacher stated.
Committee members echoed the call for a return to the moon, highlighting competition with China. “America must win the race to the moon,” said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, chairman of the space subcommittee. Rep. Valerie Foushee raised concerns that the current political climate and policies from the Trump administration could hinder progress in space exploration.
It’s important for NASA to be transparent and engage with Congress and the public on such significant initiatives. As this conversation continues, the decisions made today will shape the future of space exploration and America’s leadership in this vital area.
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