The tech isn’t “lost” as in we don’t know how to do it. The tech is “lost” in the sense that we spent billions building giant single use rockets, then shut down the factories to move on to other projects.
If we wanted to turn around and build the exact same thing, we could. But all it would accomplish is sticking a couple people on the moon for a few days again. We already did that, and we don’t want to waste the money it would take to repeat the stunt.
What we want is sticking people on the moon for a few months at a time, for a fraction of the cost. Which requires different tech and different rockets. We also want it safer, and more repeatable. None of those things can be done with the old equipment.
The tech isn’t “lost” as in we don’t know how to do it. The tech is “lost” in the sense that we spent billions building giant single use rockets, then shut down the factories to move on to other projects.
If we wanted to turn around and build the exact same thing, we could. But all it would accomplish is sticking a couple people on the moon for a few days again. We already did that, and we don’t want to waste the money it would take to repeat the stunt.
What we want is sticking people on the moon for a few months at a time, for a fraction of the cost. Which requires different tech and different rockets. We also want it safer, and more repeatable. None of those things can be done with the old equipment.