SpaceX began testing of its Starship spacecraft in earnest in 2019, but that rocket has yet to reach orbit.Ī host of aerospace contractors across the U.S. The agency last year awarded SpaceX with a $2.9 billion contract to develop a moon-specific version of the rocket to serve as the crew lunar lander for the Artemis III mission. NASA's Artemis plan relies on the success of another monster rocket as well: SpaceX's Starship. The watchdog found more than $40 billion has already been spent on the program, and projected NASA would spend $93 billion on the effort through 2025 – when the first landing is planned.

NASA's Inspector General, its internal auditor, earlier this year said Artemis is not the 'sustainable' moon program that the agency's officials say it is.

But the rocket is only just now debuting, having cost more than $20 billion to develop, and its per launch price tag has ballooned to $4.1 billion. Officials in 2012 estimated that the SLS rocket would cost $6 billion to develop, debut in 2017 and carry a $500 million per launch price tag. The Artemis I mission represents a crucial turning point in NASA's moon plans.ĭespite the delays, and absorbing much of NASA's relatively small budget by federal agency standards, the Artemis program has enjoyed strong bipartisan political support. Artemis I has been delayed for years, with the program running billions over budget. While Artemis I will not carry astronauts, nor land on the moon, the mission is critical to demonstrating that NASA's monster rocket and deep space capsule can deliver on their promised abilities. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower

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