OPINION:
The Heritage Foundation’s Stephen Yates is right that winning the space race with China will require long-term thinking and planning (“NASA must replace its antiquated Space Launch System,” Web, Feb. 11).
Yet as a former assistant vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force and someone with experience in global force posture and long-range planning, I can say this plainly: You do not sideline your only functioning system until a better one has a proven track record.
The truth is that right now, the Space Launch System, on which Mr. Yates is not very keen, is the only American superheavy rocket that has flown and is certified to carry out NASA’s lunar return mission architecture.
Everything else, whether from China or commercial providers here at home, is still in development. They may work someday. They may even be better someday. Right now, though, they’re theoretical.
In the military, we learn quickly that not every promising system pans out. On paper, lots of ideas appear transformational. In reality, some run into delays, cost overruns or technical problems.
It’s a bit like baseball. Every year, there are top prospects who are supposed to be the next superstar. Some are. Many aren’t. You don’t bench your proven starter in the middle of a pennant race because a minor leaguer has a great scouting report.
The same thought process takes place when managing space and national security policy. You do not sideline a system that works in the middle of a strategic competition unless the replacement is fully operational and proven.
China talks a big game about lunar ambitions, but the United States is the only nation with a functioning, human-rated, superheavy rocket capable of deep-space missions. That’s because of the Space Launch System, which is helping us stay ahead.
Until another system is not just promised, not just tested, but actually flying crewed missions reliably, the Space Launch System remains the backbone of America’s lunar return.
In a real space race, you don’t turn your back on what’s already helping you win.
RICHARD Y. NEWTON III
Jupiter Florida
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