Re: A small FH factoid. It's now within 8.86% of the baseline SLS payload to LEO.
I hope they do finish and fly the SLS. One thing's for sure - it'll be a really, really, really, impressively noisy thing at launch.
From what I've seen of it, the facilities they're putting together to production-line the SLS look quite good. Automated welding stations (using friction stir welding, another great British invention), bespoke machining rigs, the lot. If they could get it flying regularly, well, there's nothing like regular launches at that payload.
I just hope we can think of a semi-sensible use for it. The obvious application - getting enough gear up into space to be able to something serious and effective at diverting an asteroid on a collision course - just never seems to register on any political roadmap. Strange, because i) it's definitely going to happen one day, ii) we will probably want to do something about stopping it, iii) we haven't a clue about when it hoves into view; could be tomorrow. Oh well, guess it'll have to be moon / space station things...