US government should dump SLS and make Turbo rocket instead

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) project will cost about $40 billion from now to 2030 and will produce a chemical rocket about 1000 times more expensive to launch than a SpaceX BFR. SLS will start inferior to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy and then will be years later than a superior SpaceX BFR. SLS funds would be better spent on making a vastly superior Turbo rocket.

There is a 104 page presentation on the Turbo rocket.

John Bucknell created the pre-conceptual design for the SpaceX Raptor engine which will be used for the SpaceX BFR. John Bucknell says the nuclear turbo rocket technology and his designs are ready for development. The air-breathing nuclear thermal rocket will enable 7 times more payload fraction to be delivered to low-earth orbit and it will have 6 times the ISP (rocket fuel efficiency) as chemical rockets. The rocket will have two to three times the speed and performance of chemical rockets for missions outside of the atmosphere.

The turbo rocket will cost less than $85 per kilogram to low earth orbit and $715 per kilogram to the moon.

Instead of spending tons of money for an inferior performance to SpaceX BFR, the shift should be developing a superior follow up the SpaceX BFR.

SLS has already cost about $15 billion (2011-2018)
SLS will cost another $10 billion to get to a possible first launch (2019-2021)
SLS will cost another $30 billion from 2022-2030

SLS will be obsolete before it flies.

Nuclear thermal technology is ready

Nuclear Thermal rockets have never flown, but Project Nerva (1958-1972) had hours of successful ground tests and the next phase would have started flight tests.

There was also Project Timberwind which was funded for $139 million from 1987 through 1991. The proposed rocket was later expanded into a larger design after the project was transferred to the Air Force Space Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (SNTP) program. Advances in high-temperature metals, computer modeling and nuclear engineering in general resulted in designs with dramatically improved performance. Whereas the NERVA engine was projected to weigh about 6803 kg, the final SNTP offered just over 1/3 the thrust from an engine of only 1650 kg, while further improving the specific impulse from 930 to 1000 seconds.

Brian Wang

Brian Wang is a prolific business-oriented writer of emerging and disruptive technologies. He is known for insightful articles that combine business and technical analysis that catches the attention of the general public and is also useful for those in the industries. He is the sole author and writer of nextbigfuture.com, the top online science blog. He is also involved in angel investing and raising funds for breakthrough technology startup companies.

He gave the recent keynote presentation at Monte Jade event with a talk entitled the Future for You.  He gave an annual update on molecular nanotechnology at Singularity University on nanotechnology, gave a TEDX talk on energy, and advises USC ASTE 527 (advanced space projects program). He has been interviewed for radio, professional organizations. podcasts and corporate events. He was recently interviewed by the radio program Steel on Steel on satellites and high altitude balloons that will track all movement in many parts of the USA.

He fundraises for various high impact technology companies and has worked in computer technology, insurance, healthcare and with corporate finance.

He has substantial familiarity with a broad range of breakthrough technologies like age reversal and antiaging, quantum computers, artificial intelligence, ocean tech,  agtech, nuclear fission, advanced nuclear fission, space propulsion, satellites, imaging, molecular nanotechnology, biotechnology, medicine, blockchain, crypto and many other areas.