The last time NASA landed astronauts on the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Nearly 50 years later, NASA's Artemis program aims to return to the lunar surface, with the goal of sending 'the first woman and the next man' to the Moon by the mid-2020s. However, the program has faced delays and challenges, both technical and financial, which have pushed back the timeline for the next lunar landing. Additionally, NASA faces competition from countries like China and private companies like SpaceX, all vying to make their mark on the next chapter of lunar exploration.