NASA now officially has no plans to use new mobile launcher for Artemis
Orlando Sentinel • • science
Key Points:
- NASA has announced it will no longer use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) for the Artemis moon program due to development delays, focusing instead on the Block 1 configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Mobile Launcher 1 (ML1) for the first three missions.
- ML2, which is 90% complete and was originally intended for Artemis IV and V with the taller Exploration Upper Stage, faces uncertainty, with no immediate plans for its use but potential for reconfiguration if needed.
- The ML2 project has experienced significant cost overruns and delays, with expenses nearly tripling from $383 million to over $1 billion and delivery pushed from 2023 to late 2026, contributing
