Bloomberg Slams NASA’s Artemis Mission, Calling for Cancellation: “A Colossal Waste of Time & Resources”

The race back to the Moon is hitting some serious turbulence, and now a prominent voice is calling for a major course correction. NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to lunar soil, is now facing delays that could push the historic landing to 2027 or beyond. This setback comes with a staggering price tag that’s already nearing $100 billion, leaving many to question: Is this moonshot worth the astronomical cost? None other than Michael Bloomberg is asking this very question.

Bloomberg’s Damning Verdict

In a scathing op-ed, billionaire Michael Bloomberg – founder of Bloomberg News and former US Presidential candidate – has called for the cancellation of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, a cornerstone of the Artemis program. Bloomberg’s critique is damning: “Each launch will likely cost at least $4 billion, quadruple initial estimates,” he wrote. “This exceeds private-sector costs many times over, yet it can launch only about once every two years and—unlike SpaceX’s rockets—can’t be reused.”

Bloomberg’s call to action goes beyond just the SLS. He’s essentially advocating for the next administration to scrap all elements of the Artemis Program that aren’t critical for establishing and maintaining a lunar presence. His argument? SpaceX’s Starship system could do the job more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost. “A celestial irony is that none of this is necessary,” Bloomberg stated. “A reusable SpaceX Starship will very likely be able to carry cargo and robots directly to the moon—no SLS, Orion, Gateway, Block 1B or ML-2 required—at a small fraction of the cost. Its successful landing of the Starship booster was a breakthrough that demonstrated how far beyond NASA it is moving.”

While these arguments aren’t new in space policy circles, hearing them from such a prominent figure outside the usual space policy orbit adds significant weight to the debate.

Artemis Program: Current Status

NASA recently announced that Artemis II, the first crewed mission around the Moon, is now targeted for September 2025 – nearly a year later than initially planned. The subsequent Artemis III mission, intended to land astronauts near the lunar South Pole, has slipped to September 2026. However, the agency’s own analysis suggests a nearly one-in-three chance that the crucial lunar lander could be at least 18 months behind schedule.

What’s Wrong?

These delays stem from a perfect storm of technical challenges:

• Issues with Orion spacecraft’s life support systems and heat shield
• Development hurdles for SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander
• Complexities in creating next-generation spacesuits

While NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasizes that “safety is our top priority,” the constant rescheduling is raising eyebrows both in Washington and among space enthusiasts worldwide.

As NASA grapples with these challenges, the agency is also postponing other promising scientific endeavors, including missions to Venus and asteroid detection programs. This has led to growing concerns about the opportunity costs of pursuing Artemis in its current form.

NASA’s Struggles vs. SpaceX’s Rise

Another point to consider is the contrast between NASA’s struggles and SpaceX’s rapid progress; it’s stark. SpaceX recently achieved a major milestone by successfully “catching” a descending Super Heavy booster with mechanical arms on the launch pad – a key step towards rapid reusability. 

The coming years will be critical for NASA and the future of human space exploration. With the next presidential administration on the horizon and voices like Bloomberg’s joining the chorus of critics, tough questions are being asked: Can Artemis deliver on its promises? Or is it time for a radical reimagining of America’s lunar ambitions, perhaps with a greater role for commercial partners like SpaceX?

One thing is certain – the path back to the Moon is proving to be far more complex, costly, and controversial than many had anticipated. As delays mount and budgets balloon, NASA faces increasing pressure to justify its approach. The agency must now navigate not only the technical challenges of space exploration but also a shifting landscape of public and political opinion. The clock is ticking for NASA to prove that Artemis can overcome its earthly obstacles and truly reach for the stars – or risk being left behind in a new era of commercial space exploration.