Apollo's impatient old-timers are rooting for NASA's return to the moon
5 hours ago
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- Apollo era veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, are excited about NASA's Artemis II mission to the moon but wish it had happened sooner while more of their colleagues were alive.
- There is frustration among these old-timers over NASA's slow progress and past cancellations of Apollo moon landings, with many feeling the initial energy and passion of the Apollo program is unmatched today.
- Artemis II features increased gender diversity, including women in key roles such as launch director and crew members, highlighting progress since the Apollo era.
- NASA's new administrator, Jared Isaacman, is pushing to accelerate Artemis launch schedules and improve safety, aiming to match Apollo's pace, with plans for a moon base and enhanced mission preparations.
- A primary goal of Artemis is to beat China in returning astronauts to the lunar surface, with NASA targeting a 2028 landing compared to China's 2030 goal, reviving competitive space race dynamics.
- Despite skepticism about replicating Apollo's excitement, veterans like Charlie Duke believe successful Artemis landings, especially at the moon's south pole, could captivate millions and reignite public interest.