NASA’s ambitious plan to return astronauts to the moon through the Artemis program has encountered significant challenges, with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket falling behind schedule and exceeding its budget, according to a scathing audit released by NASA’s Inspector General. The report warns of potential further cost increases and schedule delays that could jeopardize the entire Artemis mission if not addressed promptly.
The audit highlights that NASA’s spending on the Artemis Moon Program is estimated to reach a staggering $93 billion by 2025, including $23.8 billion already allocated to the SLS system through 2022. These figures reveal cost increases of $6 billion and schedule delays of over six years beyond NASA’s original projections.
