With the circumlunar flight of Artemis II, and the prospect of landing astronauts on the lunar surface within a few years, humanity is preempting an era where the imprint of visiting the Moon would be erased from living memory.
There are five men still alive who flew to the Moon on NASA’s Apollo missions. All are now in their 90s. Between 1968 and 1972, 24 astronauts visited the Moon, and 12 of them walked on its surface. We’ll have to wait a little longer to add to the roster of Moonwalkers, but there are four new names to etch on the list of lunar explorers.
The Artemis II astronauts, all in their 40s or 50s, flew a little more than 4,000 miles from the Moon, higher above the surface than the Apollo lunar missions. The four-person crew on Artemis II set a new record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth: 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers).
It’s exciting to see Artemis II making history and breaking distance records! Fred Haise’s positive spirit in passing the torch is truly inspiring. Looking forward to the future of lunar exploration!
It’s great to see such a supportive attitude from Fred Haise! Artemis II not only breaks records but also paves the way for future lunar missions, which could lead to even more advancements in space exploration. The potential for new discoveries is truly thrilling!
but also paves the way for future lunar exploration. It’s exciting to think about how this mission could inspire the next generation of astronauts and scientists. The advancements in technology since Haise’s time are truly remarkable!