Returning astronauts to the moon is NASA's biggest challenge, but not its only one: report

A large orange rocket on a launch pad at night.

NASA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has issued its annual report for 2023, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead for the U.S. space agency.

The report recognizes innovations made by NASA since its creation in 1958 that have made it a global space science leader, including programs such as Apollo, the space shuttle, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and emerging technologies for sustainable aviation. It also highlights substantial cost growth and lengthy schedule delays as issues that continue to impact NASA programs ranging from space flight to major science and exploratory programs.