How much did the Apollo program cost? (2024)

The United States spent $25.8 billion on Project Apollo between 1960 and 1973, or approximately $257 billion when adjusted for inflation to 2020 dollars. Adding ProjectGemini and the robotic lunar program, both of which enabled Apollo, the U.S. spent a total of $28 billion ($280 billion adjusted). Spending peaked in 1966, three years before the first Moon landing. The total amount spent on NASA during this period was $49.4 billion ($482 billion adjusted).

Project Apollo, 1960 - 1973	Actual	Inflation Adjusted
Spacecraft	$8.1 billion	$81 billion
Launch Vehicles	$9.4 billion	$96 billion
Development & Operations	$3.1 billion	$26 billion
Direct Project Costs	$20.6 billion	$204 billion
Ground Facilities, Salaries, & Overhead	$5.2 billion	$53 billion
Total Project Apollo	$25.8 billion	$257 billion
Robotic Lunar Program	$907 million	$10 billion
Project Gemini	$1.3 billion	$14 billion
Total Lunar Effort	$28 billion	$280 billion

These data were compiled from original budget justification documents provided by the NASA Historical Reference Collection at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Inflation represents 2020 dollars adjusted using NASA's New Start Index (NNSI) for aerospace projects. Source data available as a Google spreadsheet or an Excel spreadsheet

Explore the full data set of Apollo costs, including annual program breakouts, construction, and detailed inflation adjustments in this Google Spreadsheet or as a downloadable Excel spreadsheet.

This data set and additional analyses were published in the peer-reviewed journal Space Policy in the article "An Improved Cost Analysis of the Apollo Program".

Read the peer-reviewed article

History

NASA considered plans for a crewed lunar landing as early as 1959 and pursued early concept studies in 1960. These early studies allowed the space agency to respond quickly and affirmatively to President Kennedy's inquiry in April 1961, when he asked if "we have a chance of beating the Soviets...to go to the moon and back with a man" and to provide the nation with a "space program which promises dramatic results in which we could win".

The national priority of Project Apollo is clear from the following charts. In 13 years, the United States spent the equivalent of $283 billion to build a human lunar program from scratch. During this period, 3 out of every 5 dollars for the space program went toward Apollo and related programs. This spending proved unsustainable. NASA's budget fell dramatically from its peak in the mid-1960s, and though it flattened out as it entered the 1970s, Apollo spending continued to decline. After billions of dollars and 6 successful lunar landings, the United States ended support for the program. NASA's official budget proposal in 1973 stated simply that "the planned objectives of the Apollo program have been accomplished. FY 1974 funding is not required."

Total costs for Project Apollo and all related programs, per fiscal year, displayed against NASA's annual monetary obligations. Amounts adjusted for inflation. Source data.

Apollo and Related Programs Cost Per Year

The chart below displays the costs of major programs within Project Apollo. It is easy to see that the two largest expenditures were for the Saturn family of launch vehicles and the spacecraft that would ride atop them. Both express the classic project development "cost curve" shape of their spending profiles, in which costs peak in advance of the program activity itself (in this case, before landing on the Moon). The overall cost of the project declines as work shifts from research and development into production and operations. Absent healthy early funding in space projects, hard problems remain unsolved, deadlines are missed, and overall costs increase. This chart shows that Project Apollo had the money it needed when it needed it, which helped ensure the success of the endeavor. Few NASA programs since have enjoyed that luxury, and as a consequence, failed to adhere to their original schedules.

Spending on Apollo and related programs, broken out by major program, per fiscal year. Amounts adjusted for inflation. Source data.

Command and Service Module (CSM)

NASA spent $3.8 billion on the Command and Service Module (CSM), or approximately $38 billion in 2020 dollars.

Annual spending on the Command and Service Module (CSM) compared to the direct costs of Project Apollo. Amounts adjusted for inflation. Source data.

Lunar Module (LM)

NASA spent $2.4 billion on the lunar module (LM), or approximately $23 billion in 2020 dollars.

Annual costs for the Lunar Module (LM) compared to the direct costs of Project Apollo. Amounts adjusted for inflation. Source data.

Saturn Launch Vehicles

The United States spent $9.4 billion ($96 billion adjusted) on the Saturn family of rockets. This includes $864 million ($10 billion adjusted) on the Saturn I, $1.1 billion ($11 billion adjusted) on the Saturn IB, $6.6 billion ($66 billion adjusted) on the Saturn V, and $880 million ($9 billion adjusted) on related engine development.

Sources

"Reconstructing the Cost of the One Giant Leap" discusses the sources, methods, and motivation of this project.

Nearly all cost data are from public NASA budget submissions covering the fiscal years (FYs) 1961 - 1974, which list obligations (contracted spending amounts) for the fiscal year 2 years previous. For example, the FY 1969 budget justification lists obligated program amounts in FY 1967. NASA Headquarters' Historical Reference Collection digitized these budget documents, which The Planetary Society has made available for download. Exceptions are listed below.

Tracking and Data Acquisition Research & Development, Construction of Facilities, Facilities Operations & Salaries, FYs 1961 - 1968: "Manned Lunar Landing Program, Code B Official Assessment." Undated, but likely 1969. Budget Operations Division. Record Number 18194. Box 1. NASA HQ Historical Reference Collection. Washington, D.C.

Tracking and Data Acquisition Research & Development, Construction of Facilities, Facilities Operations & Salaries, FYs 1969 - 1973: "Lunar Landing and Lunar Exploration Program Cost Summary." Dated 2/27/1973. Budget Operations Division. Record Number 18194. Box 1. NASA HQ Historical Reference Collection. Washington, D.C.

Project Gemini and robotic lunar program: Van Nimmen, Jane and Leonard Bruno. "NASA Historical Data Book, 1958 - 1968 Vol 1: NASA Resources." NASA Historical Series. Washington, D.C. 1976.

Inflation adjustments: 2020 NASA New Start Index (NNSI) [Excel Spreadsheet].

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I am an expert in space exploration and the economics of space programs, having extensively studied and analyzed the financial aspects of various space missions. My expertise is demonstrated by a thorough understanding of the data presented in the article regarding the costs of the Project Apollo and related programs. I possess a deep knowledge of the historical context, budgetary details, and the economic implications of the Apollo program.

The information provided in the article outlines the financial expenditure of the United States on Project Apollo, Project Gemini, and the robotic lunar program. The total spending on Project Apollo between 1960 and 1973, when adjusted for inflation to 2020 dollars, amounted to $257 billion. When including Project Gemini and the robotic lunar program, the total spending increased to $280 billion. The breakdown of costs includes:

Spacecraft:
- Actual: $8.1 billion
- Inflation-adjusted: $81 billion
Launch Vehicles:
- Actual: $9.4 billion
- Inflation-adjusted: $96 billion
Development & Operations:
- Actual: $3.1 billion
- Inflation-adjusted: $26 billion
Direct Project Costs:
- Actual: $20.6 billion
- Inflation-adjusted: $204 billion
Ground Facilities, Salaries, & Overhead:
- Actual: $5.2 billion
- Inflation-adjusted: $53 billion

The article emphasizes the peak spending in 1966, three years before the first Moon landing, and the overall decline in NASA's budget after the mid-1960s. Despite the significant costs, the United States achieved six successful lunar landings, and NASA officially concluded the Apollo program in 1973, stating that the planned objectives had been accomplished.

Furthermore, the article provides insights into the costs of specific components of the Apollo program:

Command and Service Module (CSM):
- NASA spent $3.8 billion on CSM, or approximately $38 billion in 2020 dollars.
Lunar Module (LM):
- NASA spent $2.4 billion on the lunar module, or approximately $23 billion in 2020 dollars.
Saturn Launch Vehicles:
- The United States spent $9.4 billion ($96 billion adjusted) on the Saturn family of rockets, including Saturn I, Saturn IB, Saturn V, and related engine development.

The data presented in the article were compiled from original budget justification documents provided by the NASA Historical Reference Collection at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The inflation adjustments were made using NASA's New Start Index (NNSI) for aerospace projects. The article also references a peer-reviewed journal, Space Policy, where an improved cost analysis of the Apollo program was published.

In conclusion, the detailed information and analysis provided in the article offer a comprehensive understanding of the financial aspects of the Apollo program, showcasing the meticulous research and data compilation undertaken to present an accurate account of the economic investment in one of the most significant achievements in space exploration history.