After an over 50-year absence, NASA astronauts will return to the moon — just not as soon as the space agency hopes.

An ambitious schedule is falling prey to delays in new systems under development by private contractors including SpaceX and Axiom.

NASA's endeavor to return humans to the moon during the Artemis 3 mission will likely be delayed because it is jeopardized by "multiple challenges" and an ambitious schedule.

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that NASA and its contractors face challenges developing a lunar lander and sufficient space suits. Based on the development schedule, the report said the earliest the Artemis III mission would likely occur is in 2027.