Anyone excited about the upcoming Artemis Program?

[OBXgirl]

I am so excited about this new Lunar Program. Going back to stay, learning to use sustainable methods to inhabit a new world...just amazing. Add in the Gateway (I love the term Space Tugs) and we're in business for the long term.
I hope it reignites the level of excitement similar to the Apollo Program. What was once a national initiative has become a global initiative. Outstanding !
What are your thoughts?

[Unitron48]

At age 70+ grew up on a steady diet of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo...can't wait for the sequel!!

Dave

[bobharmony]

Like Dave, I grew up with the early manned missions (although not quite as old as him ). It would be wonderful to re-ignite that fervor again. When Armstrong landed on the Moon you couldn't go anywhere without seeing, talking about it, feeling the excitement. Even with that, the energy didn't last long enough to complete all the planned Apollo missions.

In my opinion, it will take a politician with the vision and charisma of a John Kennedy to make this happen, and I don't see that person in the current flock of politicos, so I take the talk with a grain of salt. I want it to happen, believe we would all benefit if it did, but am not holding my breath.

Sorry to rain on the parade, but I have been living this for a long time. I recall the same buzz in the early 2000s when the manned Mars missions using the Ares rocket were being introduced by NASA. That program (Project Constellation?) was all the rage for a while but was then cancelled. Fingers crossed that this can survive in a bitterly partisan environment, but not optimistic.

Bob

[OBXgirl]

Like Dave, I grew up with the early manned missions (although not quite as old as him ). It would be wonderful to re-ignite that fervor again. When Armstrong landed on the Moon you couldn't go anywhere without seeing, talking about it, feeling the excitement. Even with that, the energy didn't last long enough to complete all the planned Apollo missions.

In my opinion, it will take a politician with the vision and charisma of a John Kennedy to make this happen, and I don't see that person in the current flock of politicos, so I take the talk with a grain of salt. I want it to happen, believe we would all benefit if it did, but am not holding my breath.

Sorry to rain on the parade, but I have been living this for a long time. I recall the same buzz in the early 2000s when the manned Mars missions using the Ares rocket were being introduced by NASA. That program (Project Constellation?) was all the rage for a while but was then cancelled. Fingers crossed that this can survive in a bitterly partisan environment, but not optimistic.

Bob

With so many of the needed elements in place or already in play I really feel this Program is a go. And we're dealing with 15 other countries, as well as commercial entities, so our politics, while always an issue, should not be the definitive final word. *fingers crossed*

[pakarinen]

Having been a federal contractor and also having been on the receiving (and not receiving) end of federal funding, I have to take the hype with a block of salt. The vagaries of federal funding are many.

I predict it will take a major embarrassment by China before the US actually accomplishes anything. And I do hope I'm very wrong.

[Star Dad]

NASA's funding is so dramatically smaller than it was in the 60s that I find it incredulous that they have been able to accomplish so much on so little. When I see money in the budget then I'll believe it. It's easy to say, "We're going back". It's totally another to actually fund it when there are so many other "high priority" projects. I agree - it will take putting another non-US person on the moon to get funding - and maybe not even then. This country needs a vision and a leader with a vision. A goal. A unifying force.