The 2024 deadline for American astronauts to return to the moon was set by the Trump administration in 2019. NASA had previously been planning for a return to the moon by 2028.
The newly-hired NASA administrator for human exploration says that he is “highly confident NASA can make the new deadline”.
NASA is currently building a new rocket and astronaut capsule. NASA’s greatest issue regarding the mission is the moon lander that will carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the lunar surface. … that’s the piece that right now is the focus of ‘How do we make sure we create a lander that we can develop and get to the moon in the next five years?, Dan Loverro, NASA, via NPR News.
The last moon landing occurred in 1972.