“One rocket, one journey” is gone—logistics win now.
Money didn’t disappear; priorities multiplied.
Recreating Saturn V would still require modern recertification.
Depot valves freezing in micro-g? Nightmare scenario.
The Uber/train analogy is perfect—and intentional.
ISRU comes later; depots are phase one.
SLS buys political cover; Starship buys capability.
Artemis III is a demo of architecture, not destiny.
Heat shield surprises are why Artemis II slipped.
The Moon didn’t get harder; our bar got higher.