NASA lacks single cost estimate for Moon-to-Mars program

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that NASA lacks a single, comprehensive cost estimate for its Moon-to-Mars program. According to William Russell, a GAO director managing NASA audits, the agency tracks costs on a project-by-project basis and publishes life-cycle estimates for individual hardware, but it does not produce a unified top-line figure for the entire effort.

Auditors noted that financial visibility decreases once a project transitions from development to operations. For example, the Orion crew capsule's costs become more difficult to track after completing its development phase. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to determine the total cost of specific upcoming missions, such as Artemis III or Artemis IV.

NASA's inspector general previously reached similar conclusions, stating in a January report that there are no comprehensive estimates accounting for all components of each Artemis mission. While a 2021 estimate projected $93 billion in spending for the Artemis effort by fiscal year 2025, officials indicate that substantial additional funding will be required before the next successful lunar landing, which is currently targeted for 2028.