2:45 pm MDT — All eyes seem to be on the Artemis II launch right now. And barring a change in weather conditions or a mechanical issue, the rocket carrying four astronauts is scheduled to lift off at 6:24 pm EDT.
Everyone seems very excited about it, but I must confess to feeling rather jaded. Of course I hope they have a successful mission and return home safely. And I’m pleased to finally, finally see us returning to space. The launch itself will be spectacular, and the flight will take the crew farther from Earth than ever before.
Still, having watched six actual moon landings from 1969 to 1972, after watching astronauts walk on the moon, drive around in the lunar rover, swing golf clubs, and plant US flags on the moon, I’m finding it hard to get excited about a flight around the moon.
We walked on the moon 50 years ago. Simply flying around it now seems a bit anticlimactic. I realize Mars is the ultimate objective of the Artemis program, after establishing a permanent base on the moon in the 2030s. But I’m just not feeling the excitement.
I never expected to feel this way about space flight.
________________
Astronaut Harrison Schmitt stands on the moon next to an American flag, its pole pointing toward Earth. The mission, Apollo 17 in 1972, was the last of America’s moon landings.
I rather feel the same way. Every time the announcers say “Going farther than they’ve gone before,” I feel like, “Really? I saw that they landed on the moon, walked (bounced, that is) around, hit the golf balls, drove the lunar rover, etc.” It was exciting, and also for me, at least, fraught with anxiety until the astronauts safely linked up with the command module. What makes it farther? I still don’t know. Maybe when I see the rocket lift off, I’ll feel excited. ~Nan
That’s what I’m hoping too — that the roar of that rocket as it lifts off will excite me. As for the “farther” thing, I think it means the distance it will be from Earth when it’s on the far side of the moon. Farther because previous flights were flying lower, orbiting or landing on the moon instead of just slingshotting around it.
P.S. And yes, you’re right. They did bounce, not walk, on the moon. And they had a blast doing it, too. Just like kids.
I love the science exploration bit, but yeah, haven’t we done this before? What I’m not seeing (that would get me excited) is what are we doing that is new? Looks like all the stuff is just updated Apollo stuff — better computers, nicer space suits, more crew, but we’re still just lighting tons of hydrogen to get them into space. Space exploration isn’t going to yield much as long as we’re limited in our propulsion methods.
and where’s my flying car, in the 60’s I was promised a flying car by the 21st century.
Yes, somebody on today’s broadcast said something about Apollo stuff being a big part of today’s project. Don’t know if they meant technology or knowledge or what.
I will say my “jadedness” disappeared a few minutes before lift-off. It was replaced by a knot in my stomach. And tears as that white smoke followed the rocket into space. I kept seeing Challenger’s lift-off …
I’m glad it’s nasa again at least
Oh yes! Hadn’t thought about that. It absolutely should be NASA representing the US. National pride and honor, not some billionaire’s ego stroking.