The sale of Rocketdyne's assets to private equity firm AE Industrial highlights the decline of America's traditional rocket industry, as L3Harris retains only the RS-25 engine program. The RS-25, originally the Space Shuttle Main Engine, is crucial for NASA's Artemis Moon program but comes with a hefty price tag of $100 million per engine. This high cost has led to criticism of the SLS rocket program, despite congressional support to continue it through Artemis V. AE Industrial's acquisition includes the RL10 upper stage engine production and ongoing work in various propulsion technologies, allowing L3Harris to focus on defense contracts. This shift underscores the changing landscape of the aerospace industry, where cost efficiency and innovation are increasingly prioritized.
