India, April 1 -- The United States is preparing to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over five decades with Artemis II, marking a major step in reviving human lunar exploration after a long pause since the Apollo era.

NASA's original lunar programme, Apollo program, ended in 1972 primarily due to budget constraints and shifting political priorities.

According to the New York Post, the agency had initially planned nine missions but was forced to cancel several as funding tightened.

A month after Apollo 12, a top aide to then-President Richard Nixon indicated limits on space spending. He noted that "the president says that he doesn't have enough money. and must accept limitation of [space] activity," as cited by spac...