Well, the “safe, simple, soon” launch vehicle doesn’t seem to be as simple or soon as advertised. I’m shocked, shocked, I tell you.

Whether or not it’s safe remains to be seen.

[Update on Thursday morning]

Chair Force Engineer has some further uncharitable thoughts:

It would be wise to ask the engineers behind the Exploration Systems Architecture Study, Was “The Stick” really better than Delta & Atlas, or did you just do what Scott Horowitz told you to do?

[Another update on Thursday afternoon]

Jon Goff isn’t impressed, either.