Ken Bowersox: NASA Likely to Push Back SLS Launch to 2021

Ken Bowersox, acting associate administrator for NASA’s human exploration and operations division, has said that the agency is working on a “very aggressive” schedule for the Space Launch System, Space News reported Friday. SLS is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to send the uncrewed Orion spacecraft to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis-1 mission.

Bowersox told attendees duiring a presenattion in Las Cruces, N.M. that it’s likely for NASA’s projected 2020 launch to be delayed depending on the results of further integration and static-fire tests.

“We have a chance to actually have a rocket on the pad and launch by the end of next year,” he said. “But when you start throwing all those different uncertainties, it’s more likely that we will move out into 2021.”

In September, NASA finished integrating the launch’ vehicle’s components intended to support its core stage. Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne will work with NASA for further integration activities.

According to Bowersox, an official decision on a new launch date will not be issued until a new associate administrator for human exploration and operations is appointed.