NASA Artemis mission: 8 important things to know about 'returning humans to the Moon'

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The Cost Factor: The Apollo missions were expensive, consuming 5% of the federal budget. In today's dollars, it would be over $260 billion. Today, NASA's budget is less than half a percent of the total federal budget.

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Funding for Artemis: NASA has spent roughly $90 billion on the Artemis program over the past decade. Less funding means slower progress, despite advancements in technology.

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Politics of Space: In the 1960s, America was in a space race with the Soviet Union. Public and political interest fueled NASA's expansive budget. However, interest waned once America landed on the moon, and NASA's funding decreased.

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Reusing Space Shuttle Parts: As the space shuttle program ended, NASA reused many shuttle parts for the Artemis program. This decision was to keep infrastructure and aerospace engineers employed.

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Lowered Risk Tolerance: Unlike the dangerous Apollo missions, Artemis missions prioritize safety. After tragedies like the Challenger and Columbia disasters, NASA and the public are unwilling to take on high-risk missions.

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Artemis Mission Goals: Artemis missions plan longer stays on the moon, up to a week. They focus on scientific investigation and building infrastructure for a permanent human presence on the moon.

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The Artemis Vision: The Artemis program aims not just to return humans to the moon but also to build the infrastructure for future lunar colonies. It's a step towards achieving dreams for generations to come.