Biden administration gives support to NASA's push to the moon Share Updated: 5:04 PM EST Feb 11, 2021 Share Updated: 5:04 PM EST Feb 11, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript -- FOR THE BIG MISSION. >> AS THE U.S. HAS TAKEN STEP AFTER STEP AND SPENT DOLLAR AFTER DOLLAR ON THE ARTEMIS MOON PROGRAM, THE QUESTION HAS HOVERED. WOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN SUPPORT THE GOAL SET BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP -- TO LAND ASTRONAUTS ON THE MOON BY THE END OF 2024? THE ANSWER HAS COME FROM PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WILL WORK WITH INDUSTRY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO SEND ASTRONAUTS TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. CERTAINLY, WE SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. ASTRONAUTS APPOINTED IN DECEMBER TO MAKE THE TRIP CAN KEEP ON SMILING. >> I FEEL ABSOLUTELY EXCITED. IT’S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TIME. WE’RE LOOKING AT THE ARTEMIS TEAM AND LOOKING TO MOVING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST MISSIONS ON THE MOON. DAN: AT THE SAME TIME THE ADMINISTRATION IS ANNOUNCING ITS SUPPORT, NASA’S INSPECTOR GENERAL IS REVEALING THE PRICE TAG, $86 BILLION. $35 BILLION OF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT, WITH $51 BILLION STILL NEEDED. THAT IS A BIG NUMBER BUT IN IN INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS, THAT’S ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT THE U.S. SPENT ON THE APOLLO MOON EFFORT IN THE 1960’S AND 1970’S. AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE NEW MOON EFFORT IS THIS YEAR’S PLANNED TEST LAUNCH OF THE HUGE NEW SLS ROCKET. ENGINE TESTS ON THAT ROCKET ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND THE MOON EFFORT ITSELF NO LONGER HAS MUCH OF A CHANCE TO GET TO THE MOON ON SCHEDULE. WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT SAID IS WHETHER THE MONEY WILL KEEP FLOWING TO TRY TO STAY ON TRACK, OR WHETHER THE WHOLE EFFORT WILL BE STRETCHED O