If you’ve ever wondered why the US never attempted another Moon landing after the 1970s, the answer boils down to one thing: money.
The legendary Apollo Program, launched in 1961 to beat the Soviets in the space race, was one of the most ambitious projects in history.
It took eight years of preparation before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history in 1969 with Apollo 11, becoming the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.
Michael Collins, meanwhile, piloted the spacecraft and ensured the crew’s safe return.
Between 1969 and 1972, there were five more successful Moon landings. But after that, the US stopped sending astronauts there — and the reason lies in the staggering cost of the Apollo Program.
According to The Planetary Society, the US spent $25.8 billion between 1960 and 1973 on Apollo-related expenses, including spacecraft, facilities, operations, and wages. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $257 billion today.
When combined with Project Gemini and robotic lunar programs, the total balloons to an eye-watering $280 billion.
Costs spiraled dramatically as the program went on. In 1961, mission operations were estimated at around $297,000, but by 1972, expenses had risen to over $310 million.
While Apollo ended, space exploration didn’t stop.
Today, the International Space Station is one of NASA’s biggest projects, costing about $3 billion annually to maintain. Still costly — but nowhere near Apollo’s astronomical price tag.