In July 1969, humanity achieved a monumental leap: landing humans on the Moon for the first time during the Apollo 11 mission. This extraordinary accomplishment captivated the world, showcasing unprecedented feats of engineering, scientific innovation, and human courage. Apollo 11 was not a solitary venture; it was followed by six more lunar missions, five of which successfully landed, leaving a total of twelve astronauts to walk on the lunar surface. However, after the triumphant Apollo 17 mission in 1972, crewed lunar exploration abruptly ceased. This begs the question: why haven’t we been back to the Moon in the decades since?
The most straightforward answer, as often cited, is financial constraints. The Apollo program was undeniably expensive, with the endeavor of reaching the Moon incurring what can be described as astronomically high costs. But to fully understand why we stopped going to the Moon, and why we haven’t returned, we need to delve deeper than just the monetary aspect.
Beyond Apollo: A Shift in Space Exploration
While human footprints have been absent from the lunar surface since the 1970s, it’s crucial to acknowledge that space exploration didn’t halt. In fact, the decades following Apollo have been a period of continuous and diverse activity in space, albeit with a shift in focus.
Skylab: America’s First Space Station (1973-1974)
Following the lunar landings, NASA’s immediate next major project was Skylab, the first American space station. Launched in 1973, Skylab operated until 1974, serving as a workshop, observatory, and laboratory in orbit. Astronaut crews conducted hundreds of experiments aboard Skylab, furthering our understanding of space and the human body’s adaptation to it. However, further development and prolonged use of Skylab were hampered by delays in the Space Shuttle program, ultimately leading to its uncontrolled reentry and demise.
The Space Shuttle Era (1981-2011)
The advent of the Space Shuttle in 1981 marked a new era of reusable spacecraft. This groundbreaking technology allowed for the deployment and retrieval of satellites, in-orbit repairs, and significantly aided in the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). The Space Shuttle program, lasting until 2011, played a pivotal role in advancing space technology and infrastructure in low Earth orbit.
Mir Space Station: A Russian Pioneer (1986-2001)
Astronaut Shannon Lucid inside the Russian Mir Space Station, highlighting international collaboration in space exploration during the late 20th century.
The Russian Mir space station, operational from 1986 to 2001, was a pioneering achievement in continuous human presence in space. As the first continuously inhabited long-term research station, Mir served as a crucial platform for numerous scientific experiments and laid the foundation for international space cooperation that would follow. Its success became the blueprint for the International Space Station.
The International Space Station: Global Collaboration in Orbit (1998-Present)
The International Space Station (ISS), a joint endeavor involving the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada, represents the pinnacle of international collaboration in space. Inhabited continuously since 2000, the ISS serves as a state-of-the-art research laboratory in low Earth orbit. Astronauts from around the world conduct a wide array of experiments in microgravity, furthering scientific knowledge in various fields and providing invaluable insights into long-duration spaceflight.
Apollo 17: The Last Footprints and Cernan’s Farewell
The final crewed mission to the Moon, Apollo 17, took place in December 1972. This ambitious 12-day mission set several records, including the longest spacewalk, the longest lunar surface stay, and the largest collection of lunar samples brought back to Earth.
The crew of Apollo 17 comprised Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald E. Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison H. Schmitt, a geologist-astronaut. Notably, Schmitt’s inclusion marked a significant shift, as he was the first scientist-astronaut to land on the Moon, reflecting a growing emphasis on scientific return from lunar missions.
Geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt collecting lunar samples during the final Apollo moon landing, emphasizing the scientific objectives of the later missions.
Eugene Cernan holds the distinction of being the last human to walk on the Moon. As he prepared to depart the lunar surface, his poignant words echoed the hopes for a future return:
“…I’m on the surface; and, as I take man’s last step from the surface, back home for some time to come – but we believe not too long into the future – I’d like to just [say] what I believe history will record. That America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.”
The End of the Apollo Era: More Than Just Money
While the immense cost of the Apollo program was a significant factor, the reasons why NASA stopped going to the Moon are multifaceted and rooted in political, social, and strategic shifts.
President John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1962 “We Choose to go to the Moon” speech at Rice Stadium galvanized the nation and set the ambitious goal of landing a human on the Moon before the end of the decade. This objective was primarily driven by the Space Race, a symbolic and technological competition with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
“And this will be done in the decade of the 60s. It may be done while some of you are still here at school at this college and university. It will be done during the term of office of some of the people who sit here on this platform. But it will be done. And it will be done before the end of this decade.” – John F. Kennedy, 1962
When the Apollo 11 mission achieved this goal in 1969, the primary political objective of the Moon race was accomplished. With the symbolic victory secured, the political will and public support for sustained, expensive lunar missions waned.
Shifting Priorities and Funding Cuts
Following the Moon landing, NASA faced substantial budget reductions. Initially, 20 Apollo missions were planned, but the last three (Apollo 18, 19, and 20) were cancelled. The focus shifted away from large-scale lunar exploration towards projects deemed more immediately beneficial or politically relevant, such as Earth-orbiting space stations and the Space Shuttle program.
The immense financial burden of Apollo, initially estimated at $7 billion but ultimately reaching $20 billion, became increasingly difficult to justify once the Space Race’s primary objective was met. Public opinion also began to shift, with growing concerns about the vast sums being spent on space exploration amidst pressing social issues and civil unrest in the United States.
Furthermore, as the Cold War tensions eased with the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT), the intense geopolitical pressure driving the Space Race diminished, further reducing the impetus for continued lunar missions.
Looking to the Future: A Return to the Moon
Despite the decades-long hiatus of crewed lunar missions, the Moon has not been forgotten. Renewed interest and ambitious plans are now underway for a sustained return to our celestial neighbor.
NASA’s Artemis Program embodies this renewed commitment, aiming to land humans on the Moon again by the mid-2020s and establish a long-term, sustainable lunar presence. This time, the focus is not solely on symbolic achievement, but on building a permanent lunar infrastructure for scientific research, resource utilization, and as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars and beyond.
As former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine articulated:
“This was a contest of political ideologies. It was a contest of economic ideologies. It was a contest of technological prowess. And in this great contest of great powers the United States of America was determined to win.”
Bridenstine also emphasized the shift in objectives for future lunar endeavors:
“This time when we go to the Moon we’re going to stay. That’s what we’re looking to do.”
The new era of lunar exploration is driven by a long-term vision of establishing a sustained presence on the Moon, unlocking its scientific potential, and leveraging its resources to expand humanity’s reach into the solar system. While the Apollo era was a sprint to the Moon driven by Cold War rivalry, the 21st-century lunar ambitions are a marathon, focused on sustainable exploration and a permanent foothold beyond Earth.
