To date, NASA has allocated more than $26 billion in government property to contractors in support of six Artemis programs. Today, the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a memorandum examining how the Agency is managing this significant investment.
The Artemis campaign aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable lunar presence in preparation to send astronauts to Mars. To achieve this ambitious and costly undertaking, the Agency is relying on contractors to develop the Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket, Orion spacecraft, Human Landing Systems, and Gateway space station, as well as upgraded ground systems, next-generation spacesuits, and a lunar terrain vehicle. When it’s in the government’s best interest, NASA may furnish these Artemis contractors with government property—from specialized tooling equipment to high-speed cameras and unique spacecraft components.
During a 2024 audit reviewing NASA’s Space Launch System Block 1B development, the OIG uncovered two instances where a contractor misused government property for non-NASA purposes. The new report builds on this prior work and examines NASA’s management of Artemis government property, including property control activities and records. The auditors determined that NASA is generally following established policies but, in some cases, did not consistently apply them. The OIG made two recommendations to help the Agency hold its contractors accountable and avoid unnecessary costs to repurchase items due to loss, theft, misuse, or destruction.
