Posts: 41
From: Elk, Wa., USA
Registered: Jan 2015

posted 06-10-2026 09:30 AM            

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I love both programs and watched every mission of Apollo and today, I follow Artemis. I am just an interested observer, not really an expert.

This may be a wrong observation, but when comparing Apollo's schedule to the Artemis schedule, NASA launched Apollo missions approximately every six months. With Artemis, they seem to have a schedule of one launch per year. With the technology better, shouldn't the Artemis program be further along? Is it budgets? People's interest?

Posts: 56668
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-10-2026 09:44 AM               

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The technology is better, so Artemis can and will accomplish more with less flights, but as to the schedule, that is budget driven.

Apollo (at least up until Apollo 11) had essentially a blank check. At its peak, spending on the moon program accounted for five percent of the federal budget. Artemis is being accomplished at less than one half of one percent.

Right now, it may look like Artemis is trailing Apollo's achievements, but if the program is allowed to continue with its current plans, then we will reach the day in the coming years when humans are spending 30 day stays on the surface and rovers and other robots are operating all year round.

As for people's interest, it doesn't really matter. Polls show that more of the public were against spending money on the Apollo program, with the only exception being when Apollo 11 achieved Kennedy's goal in July 1969. The Artemis budgets are not being decided by the public.

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Posts: 41
From: Elk, Wa., USA
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