Artemis II & the Return to Deep Space
54-year gap · Apollo vs Artemis · what's next
Space Exploration
Artemis II & the Return to Deep Space
For the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972, humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit. Artemis II's crew returned to Houston in April 2026 — after a 54-year gap.
Years Between Deep-Space Missions54Apollo 17 (Dec 1972) → Artemis II (Apr 2026)
Artemis II Distance Record~268k miFarthest crewed mission from Earth
NASA Budget at Apollo Peak4.41%of the federal budget in 1966
NASA Budget Today0.35%of the federal budget in 2026
Every Crewed U.S. Space Program, 1961–2030
Deep-space missions (beyond low Earth orbit) in color — hover programs and events for detail
Deep-space (beyond LEO)
Low Earth Orbit
Artemis era
Key missions (hover)
NASA Budget as % of Federal Spending, 1959–2026
The Moon race cost 4.4¢ of every federal dollar. Today NASA gets 0.35¢.
Why did it take 54 years?