Yesterday, NASA announced yet another “new” shuttle replacement project, called SLS or Space Launch System (was an acronym really necessary for that?).

Looking like a photo-shopped Saturn V, the new launcher offers three to four times the lifting capability of the now retired Shuttle, which had to struggle into orbit with an airframe on it’s back.

Unfortunately for NASA, it’s only a matter of time before this get cancelled, just like every other major project they’ve started since the International Space Station.

Even as I write this, grubby little bank CEO’s are no doubt placing more bets. Win or lose, they’ll take home a juicy bonus, and if it goes bad, the tax payer will clean up the mess.

Too big to fail? NASA certainly isn’t.

The US Government will cut NASA’s budget like it always does, and NASA will come up with a new launch vehicle, probably inspired by some other success of the past.

Why do you play this game NASA? You tout launch vehicles, crew capsules, and missions to the Moon and Mars. All the while Congress or a change of President always sabotages you.

It’s time to stop wasting resources on half finished projects and focus on what you do best: robotic science missions that are ready to launch as quickly as possible, before the executioner can kill them.

Leave access to space to the entrepreneurs.

They’re ready to fly.

Robotic science missions.