Bridenstine Proposes Commercial EM-1 Mission - Without SLS

SLS Launch was supposed to be later than June 2020. As an agency we need to stick to our committments. We should launch around the Moon in June 2020. I think it could be done. Orion and Service module could be launched on a commercial rocket @JimBridenstine

— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 13, 2019

Wicker: you are looking at using a commercial rocket to send Orion/Service module around the Moon. Whose rocket? Bridenstine: no rocket exists - yet. We could use 2 rockets to put Orion/service module and another to put a booster into orbit, dock them, and send it to the Moon.

— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 13, 2019

Bridenstine: We can use off the shelf capabilities to accomplish this objective while sticking with SLS. I think this can be figured out in the next couple of weeks. NASA has a history of not meeting launch dates. I am going to change that.

— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 13, 2019

Here's the real significance of this Jim Bridenstine announcement. If you can do EM-1 with commercial rockets and LEO docking, you can do all of the EM missions with commercial rockets and LEO docking.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) March 13, 2019

In addition, @SciGuySpace if @NASA adopts a more modular approach where pieces are docked together in LEO then you can get more flexibility out of more parts from more players. A standard docking adapter makes this inherently flexible and govts/companies can use multiple rockets.

— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 13, 2019

It would be very interesting if @torybruno did propose a @ULA_ACES concept for EM-1 that used an ACES stage as a Earth/Moon tug - one that would be used again for future missions - with human crews on board.

— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 13, 2019