SEATTLE — As NASA pushes forward with its Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon, Washington-based aerospace expert Dr. Roger Myers says Americans may need to wait a little longer than expected to see boots on the lunar surface again.

Myers, who has spent more than 30 years working on space missions for NASA, national security, and commercial programs, said the U.S. is pursuing a much more ambitious goal than in the Apollo era. And with that ambition comes complexity and delay.

“The difference between what we did back then and what we’re trying to do now is huge,” Myers said. “We’re trying to go and have a sustained presence on the moon, not just visit.”

The United States last landed astronauts on the moon in 1972. NASA’s current goal is to return by 2027 under its Artemis III

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