Why haven’t we gone back to the Moon since the 1970s?

After the Apollo missions, funding and political interest declined, and priorities shifted toward space stations and unmanned exploration.

Is it harder to go to the Moon now than in 1969?

Technologically it’s not harder—but rebuilding the infrastructure, funding, and political momentum takes time and resources.

Are we planning to go back to the Moon?

Yes. NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon, with the first crewed mission currently planned for the late 2020s.

If We Went to the Moon in 1969, Why Can’t We Go Now?

It’s a fair question: if NASA sent astronauts to the Moon in 1969—over 50 years ago—why haven’t we gone back, and why does it seem so difficult to return today?

The truth is, we can go to the Moon today. In fact, new missions are in development right now. But the reason we haven’t been back since the Apollo program ended in 1972 has more to do with politics, funding, and priorities than technology.

Why We Stopped After Apollo

The Apollo program was born out of a unique moment in history: the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Landing on the Moon wasn’t just a scientific achievement—it was a political statement. Once that goal was accomplished in 1969, and repeated five more times through 1972, the motivation to continue faded.

Missions to the Moon are incredibly expensive. After Apollo 17, public interest and political will to spend billions on lunar exploration declined. NASA’s budget was cut, and focus shifted to building the Space Shuttle, launching satellites, and creating the International Space Station (ISS).

It’s Not That We Can’t—It’s That We Haven’t

The idea that “we can’t go to the Moon anymore” is misleading. The problem isn’t lack of capability—it’s that we stopped investing in the infrastructure and equipment needed for deep space human missions.

The Apollo-era technology was retired, and building new systems from scratch takes time. Rockets like the Saturn V are no longer in production, and we’ve had to develop modern replacements, like NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and SpaceX’s Starship, both designed for future lunar missions.

In fact, NASA’s Artemis program is already working on returning humans to the Moon, with goals that go beyond flags and footprints. Artemis plans to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, establish a sustainable presence, and eventually use the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars.

Going Back—Smarter and Safer

Unlike the Apollo missions, which were short and largely symbolic, the next generation of lunar exploration is focused on long-term goals. These include building lunar habitats, conducting scientific research, and testing technologies for future space travel. All of this requires careful planning and new international partnerships.

So yes, we went to the Moon in 1969—and we will go again. But space travel isn’t just about engineering. It’s about political will, financial support, and long-term vision. That’s why returning to the Moon took so long—but the journey has already begun.