## Summary of Ars Technica News Article: Ted Cruz Champions NASA's Space Launch System **News Title:** Ted Cruz reminds us why NASA’s rocket is called the “Senate Launch System” **Publisher:** Ars Technica **Author:** Eric Berger **Published Date:** September 2, 2025 --- ### **Main Findings and Conclusions** The article highlights a significant shift in Senator Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) legislative priorities, positioning him as a new, albeit unexpected, champion for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This comes as the original congressional proponents of the SLS have retired or lost reelection. Despite his past advocacy for the commercial space industry, which offers lower-cost alternatives to the SLS, Cruz is now actively working to secure continued funding for the government-funded rocket. ### **Key Statistics and Metrics** * **Cost of SLS Launch:** The SLS rocket costs the federal government **more than $2 billion to launch**. * **White House FY2026 Budget Proposal:** The White House sought to **end funding for the SLS rocket after the Artemis III mission** and cancel the Lunar Gateway. * **Cruz's Addendum Funding:** Senator Cruz's provision allocated **$6.7 billion** for: * Two additional SLS missions: **Artemis IV and Artemis V**. * Continued construction of the **Lunar Gateway**. ### **Important Recommendations/Actions** Senator Cruz has actively worked to: * **Craft legislative provisions** to ensure continued funding for the SLS rocket. * **Chair the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee**, which gives him significant influence over space policy. * **Prioritize beating China back to the Moon and maintaining a presence there**, viewing the SLS as the primary vehicle for achieving this goal. ### **Significant Trends or Changes** * **Shift in Congressional Support:** The departure of original SLS proponents has created a void that Senator Cruz is now filling. * **Cruz's Evolving Stance:** While previously a proponent of the commercial space industry (e.g., SpaceX, Blue Origin) with operations in his home state of Texas, Cruz has now pivoted to strongly support the government-funded SLS and its contractor, Boeing. * **Undermining White House Policy:** Cruz's actions directly counter the White House's stated goals of ending SLS funding after Artemis III and canceling the Lunar Gateway. ### **Notable Risks or Concerns** * **High Cost of SLS:** The article implicitly raises the concern of the SLS's substantial cost ($2 billion per launch) in contrast to potentially lower-cost commercial alternatives. * **Dependence on Government Funding:** The continued reliance on significant federal funding for the SLS raises questions about long-term sustainability and efficiency. ### **Material Financial Data** * **SLS Program Funding:** The article details a significant financial commitment through Senator Cruz's legislative efforts, securing **$6.7 billion** for two future SLS missions and the Lunar Gateway. This contrasts with the White House's proposal to cease funding for the SLS after the Artemis III mission. ### **Contextual Interpretation** The article frames Senator Ted Cruz as an "unlikely hero" for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) due to his self-proclaimed capitalist and fiscal conservative identity, especially given the existence of lower-cost commercial alternatives like those developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, which have a significant presence in his home state of Texas. However, his new role as chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has seemingly led him to prioritize national prestige and geopolitical competition (specifically with China) over cost-efficiency in space exploration. The numerical data highlights the substantial financial commitment involved. The **$2 billion per launch cost** of the SLS is a critical figure, especially when juxtaposed with the **$6.7 billion allocated by Cruz** for just two additional missions (Artemis IV and V) and continued Lunar Gateway construction. This allocation directly challenges the White House's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, which aimed to phase out SLS funding after Artemis III. Cruz's stated goal of beating China to the Moon and establishing a lunar presence appears to be the driving force behind his strong advocacy for the continued use of the SLS, suggesting a belief that this large, government-funded rocket is essential for achieving these ambitious national objectives, regardless of its cost. The nickname "Senate Launch System" in the article's title humorously underscores the significant influence of legislative bodies, particularly the Senate, in shaping NASA's major programs.
Ted Cruz reminds us why NASA’s rocket is called the “Senate Launch System”
Read original at Ars Technica →All of the original US senators who created and sustained NASA's Space Launch System rocket over the last 15 years—Bill Nelson, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Richard Shelby—have either retired or failed to win reelection. However, a new champion has emerged to continue the fight: Texas Republican Ted Cruz.
He seems an unlikely hero for NASA's large rocket, which costs the federal government more than $2 billion to launch. Cruz, after all, is a self-described pro-capitalist, fiscal conservative. SpaceX and Blue Origin, which are building large and significantly lower-cost alternatives to the SLS rocket, have large operations in Texas.
In previous legislative sessions, Cruz has often carried legislation important to the commercial space industry, such as the American Space Commerce Act and the Space Frontier Act. But now that he chairs the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Cruz has made a significant shift toward supporting the SLS rocket and its chief contractor, Boeing.
Cruz seeks to save SLS Earlier this year, Cruz crafted the NASA provision tacked onto President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which included $10 billion in funding for key space programs, and in two notable areas directly undermined White House space policy goals. As part of its fiscal year 2026 budget, the White House sought to end funding for the Space Launch System rocket after the Artemis III mission, and also cancel the Lunar Gateway, an orbital space station that provides a destination for the rocket.
The Cruz addendum provided $6.7 billion in funding for two additional SLS missions, Artemis IV and Artemis V, and to continue Gateway construction. In several hearings this year, Cruz has made it clear that his priorities for human spaceflight are to beat China back to the Moon and maintain a presence there.
However, it is now increasingly clear that he views this as only being possible through continued use of NASA's SLS rocket.
