>>2063750Use your brain for just a second
If we could do it easily in 1969, then obviously technology isn't the issue. The issue is funding and risk:reward
Why did the Apollo Program end in 1972? Simple, it's because we already proved we could land people on The Moon 6 times and reach the moon through orbital craft 9 times by that point. Congress gave NASA an ultimatum, either send people to the moon a 10th time, or, shift funding and focus to Skylab, the Apollo Applications Program, and the Space Shuttle. While we consider the Apollo Program an amazing achievement nowadays, you have to put yourself into the minds of taxpayers in 1972, nobody saw the need to continue the Apollo Program over other missions by that point in time.
Why are we returning to the moon in 2026? Because newer technology does promise more affordable missions, pressure from China is reigniting the Space Race, NASA plans on setting up a permanent settlement this time, and the ISS is being decommissioned in the 2030s, which frees up time and money for NASA to re-focus its human space flight program.
