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A comment on 4k NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred resignation program. Parent comment

Re:4k NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred re... by lupusreal on Sunday July 27, 2025 @02:57PM (#44703631)
> We need to have a viable heavy rocket launch capability in the US at any given time

Well we don't have that. SLS isn't it and never will be. The most SLS can be is a heavy lift rocket that can be used once every few years with a lot of upfront notice. Certainly not "launch capable" at "any given time".

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Re:4k NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred re... by matthewdgreen on Sunday July 27, 2025 @05:31PM (#44704876)
I don’t think “at any given time” means we have an asteroid intercept mission sitting around on standby, although that’d be nice. I think it means “the capability exists and can be rushed to readiness over a series of weeks or months, at virtually unlimited cost.” Not sure that’s possible any other way. I would be fine with canceling SLS once good heavy lift alternatives are available, though.
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