When Will We Go Back To The Moon?

I'll leave this right here:

               


This is a panoramic view of the Moon taken during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, courtesy of the NASA History Office @NASAhistory. 

Spot NASA astronaut and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt running on the Moon's surface.

Apollo 17 was the last of the crewed Apollo missions and Harrison Schmitt was one of the last humans to set foot on the lunar surface.

That was 43 years ago. Think about that.

What are we waiting for? A planetary disaster that will give us no choice? It's sure starting to look that way.

To be fair, China has plans to establish a permanent Moon base within 10-15 years. But still. It's been 43 years since humans walked on the Moon. We have learned so very much since then. 

Let's leave behind Earth's formidable gravity well and go apply our collective scientific and technological advancements - on another world!

It's only a 3-day trip away.

How I Became A Space Geek - Featuring: My Dad

Today is the anniversary of humanity's first steps on something other than Earth-bound destinations. How would you process such an event if you never imagined a universe before? Or a solar system? That's what happened to me on this day in 1969, when I was a kid in West Germany. 

I remember watching the newscasts; I don't recall if it was live or a repeat showing of the footage at a later time. I recall that it was a dark and clear night, the Moon bright overhead, looking close enough to touch. I also recall walking over to the window - which was practically floor-to-ceiling - pushing aside the curtain and trying to open the window. 

That got my dad's attention. The conversation that ensued went something like this:

Dad: What are you doing over there?

Me: Opening the window so I can see the moon better. 

Dad walks over to me, opens the window. 

Me: There are people on the moon right now?

Dad: Yes, there sure are.

Me: Where? I can't see them!

Dad: Oh, the moon is way too far away for us to see them from here. 

Me: How far away?

I don't remember exactly how, but this was when my dad taught me the concept of distance in "astronomical" terms, distances beyond anything my child's brain had ever imagined: That it would take *days* of travel through space to get to the Moon. 

From then on, I was hooked. No going back. I have never stopped looking to the stars since then. I have never stopped dreaming about going to space, and always encourage others to do the same. I am deeply grateful to my dad, who took the time to answer my questions so amazingly well when I was 6 that it feels like it was only yesterday.

In celebration of today's Moon Landing Anniversary, please listen to a beautiful song by @craftlass, who has an amazing voice and writes eloquent lyrics about why we must go back to the Moon ~ http://craftlass.bandcamp.com/track/familiar-frontier