Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT)
Four projects canceled earlier this year as part of changes to NASA's Artemis architecture had seen their costs more than double. NASA's Office of Inspector General issued a memo Wednesday evaluating the projects, linked to the Space Launch System Block 1B and lunar Gateway, programs NASA announced earlier this year it would halt. The combined cost of the four contracts had grown from nearly $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion, with more than $1 billion in additional cost increases projected. Some of the projects were up to seven years behind schedule. NASA noted in its response to the memo that it was changing how it was running contracts as it revises its Artemis lunar exploration plans, including more use of fixed-price contracts.
Four projects canceled earlier this year as part of changes to NASA's Artemis architecture had seen their costs more than double. NASA's Office of Inspector General issued a memo Wednesday evaluating the projects, linked to the Space Launch System Block 1B and lunar Gateway, programs NASA announced earlier this year it would halt. The combined cost of the four contracts had grown from nearly $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion, with more than $1 billion in additional cost increases projected. Some of the projects were up to seven years behind schedule. NASA noted in its response to the memo that it was changing how it was running contracts as it revises its Artemis lunar exploration plans, including more use of fixed-price contracts.
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