COST TRACKER

What they said it would cost. What it actually costs. All figures from GAO audits and NASA OIG reports — public documents, not estimates.

$21.4B

ORIGINAL ESTIMATES

$59.6B

ACTUAL SPENT

+178%

COST OVERRUN

Space Launch System (SLS)

Boeing

$7B→$23.8B

+240%

Original 2011 estimate: $7B for development. GAO 2024 report: $23.8B spent through 2024. Cost per launch: ~$2.2B (expendable).

Source: GAO-24-106237

Orion Spacecraft

Lockheed Martin

$6B→$20.4B

+240%

Development began 2006 (as CEV). Original estimate ~$6B. Through 2024: $20.4B including European Service Module contributions.

Source: NASA OIG IG-22-003

Exploration Ground Systems

Jacobs / Bechtel

$2B→$5.3B

+165%

Mobile Launcher 1 cost $1.8B alone (original est: $383M). ML-2 for Block 1B est. at $2.7B and rising.

Source: NASA OIG IG-23-014

Starship HLS

SpaceX

$2.9B→$4.4B

+52%

Original Option A contract: $2.89B (2021). Subsequent modifications brought total to ~$4.4B. Fixed-price contract — SpaceX absorbs overruns.

Source: NASA contract NNJ21OA01C

Gateway (PPE + HALO)

Maxar / Northrop Grumman

$3.3B→$5.2B

+58%

Power and Propulsion Element + Habitation and Logistics Outpost. Combined estimate has grown from $3.3B to $5.2B.

Source: GAO-24-106237

Artemis Space Suits (xEMU/AxEMU)

Axiom Space

$0.23B→$0.45B

+96%

Original NASA xEMU development spent $420M with no flight suit. Axiom contract: $228M base, task orders growing.

Source: NASA OIG IG-21-025

CONTEXT

The entire Apollo program cost approximately $257 billion in 2024 dollars. It delivered 6 Moon landings, 12 moonwalkers, and 842 pounds of lunar samples in 8 years (1961-1969 for the first landing).

Artemis has spent approximately $59.6 billion and has not yet landed anyone on the Moon. The program began in 2017. If Artemis III launches in 2028, that will be 11 years to achieve one landing.

SpaceX's Starship HLS is the only fixed-price contract in the program. Every other major contract is cost-plus — meaning the contractor is reimbursed for all costs plus a guaranteed profit margin, regardless of overruns.

ARTEMIS TRACKER — NIXFRED.TECH