Popular online chatbot ChatGPT which has caught the internet by storm this year, attempted to explain why Boeing’s Space Launch System (SLS) is the world’s cheapest rocket. The SLS is the most powerful operational rocket right now, and it successfully sent NASA’s Orion spacecraft to the Moon late last month, but the project itself has often come under criticism for being too expensive. However, the chatbot defended SLS by claiming that the rocket is reusable and that since the U.S. government funds it, Boeing has been able to spread its development costs over several years.
ChatGPT Tells Boeing Employees SLS Is Fully Reusable As It Gets Some Facts Wrong
ChatGPT’s take on the SLS and its launch costs came when Eric Burger of ArsTechnica decided to take the chatbot out for an interesting spin. He asked ChatGPT to pretend to be Boeing’s chief executive officer and write a message to the company’s employees explaining why its SLS rocket is the world’s most affordable.
The bot took this task to ‘heart’ and penned out a detailed memo that got some facts right and others completely wrong. It started by characterizing beliefs about the SLS’ costs as ‘misconceptions’ and then made tall claims for the rocket that had spent a decade developing before launching late last year.
According to ChatGPT, the SLS is fully reusable, which enables the rocket to be recovered after a launch to be reflown with little refurbishment. This is incorrect since the rocket’s two solid fuel side boosters can fire up for only one launch, and its center core, which uses four RS-25 rocket engines manufactured by Aerojet Rocketdyne, is also discarded after completing its mission.
The only rockets that have flown to orbit and demonstrated reusability so far are SpaceX’s Falcon 9 boosters. While Rocket Lab’s Electron is also designed to be reusable and has flown to orbit, it is yet to demonstrate reusability by successfully reflying. The Falcon 9 is also one of the most economical rockets in the world, with variable costs per kilogram as low as $5,500 per kilogram, according to SpaceX’s website.
Case closed. pic.twitter.com/5bqBhshlzJ
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) February 14, 2023
However, the bot does get some details right. For instance, it points out that the SLS is developed using existing technology which lowers development costs. This is correct since the rocket’s RS-25 engines were initially flown on the Space Shuttle and are the most efficient rocket engines in the world. The SLS is also modular to an extent since its newer versions will include a powerful Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), which will increase the rocket’s payload capacity.
The lack of reusability also enables NASA and Aerojet to reduce launch costs since upgraded engines are designed to be lighter and cheaper. The RS-25 was designed for reuse since the Space Shuttle itself could land on Earth, but the reusability is not needed for the SLS and removing the features allows NASA and Aerojet to save costs.
NASA budget estimates have revealed that nominal development costs for the SLS have stood at more than $20 billion, out of which the money spent developing the core stage has consumed the biggest portion.
The SLS is slated for its next mission next year, and NASA and Boeing are already building three rockets that will power the agency’s Artemis program. Boeing has also built the Starliner spaceship for NASA missions to the International Space Station (ISS), with the craft’s first crewed flight expected in April after NASA and Boeing completed an integrated mission rehearsal last month. This rehearsal evaluates the ship’s software in a simulation to ensure that it will not face any hiccups during the upcoming crucial test.
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