Apollo Veterans Eagerly Anticipate Artemis Moon Missions

Mon Mar 30 2026 14:24:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The pioneers of NASA's Apollo program express excitement for the upcoming Artemis missions, while reflecting on the passion and urgency that defined their own historic journeys to the moon.

As NASA prepares for its Artemis missions, original Apollo program veterans are excited yet nostalgic, wishing they'd seen such endeavors happen sooner. Many reflect on the energy of the Apollo era, contrasting it with today's progress. Aiming to inspire a new generation, NASA's upcoming missions promise to include a diverse crew and rapid advancements in lunar exploration. Veteran astronauts hope for a resurgence of public enthusiasm akin to the original moon landings.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The dedicated individuals who once worked tirelessly to send astronauts to the moon during the Apollo era are thrilled at NASA's return to lunar exploration through the Artemis program. However, they lament the fact that these exciting developments have come so late that many of their colleagues from the Apollo days are no longer around to witness it.

At the old age of 80 and above, these survivors wish for a resurgence of excitement surrounding Artemis, akin to the passion felt during Apollo. With only a small number remaining from the original workforce of about 400,000, no reunion is currently planned to celebrate the upcoming Artemis II mission, set to launch with four astronauts on April 1. Many of the original engineers and astronauts will simply observe the launch from their backyards at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

Charlie Mars, a 90-year-old engineer who played a critical role in developing Apollo’s command and lunar modules, shared his perception of the difference in enthusiasm today. There was an energy. There was a passion that probably is not exactly the same today and hasn’t been for a while,” he remarked.

JoAnn Morgan, who was the only woman in launch control during Apollo 11's historic mission, expressed her frustration over the canceled Apollo moon landings in the 1970s due to budget cuts and changing priorities. I’m just trying to stay alive so I can see us actually get back and step foot on the moon,” she said, reflecting on her longing for the advancement of lunar missions.

Most of the Apollo veterans are eager for more progress, noting notable advancements such as the inclusion of women in key roles for Artemis missions. NASA’s Artemis launch director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, alongside astronauts like Christina Koch—who holds the record for the longest female spaceflight—contrast starkly with the predominantly male-focused Apollo program.

“It will be even greater when they actually have a woman who plants her boots on the moon,” Morgan added, signifying a momentous change in the landscape of space exploration.

As NASA's leadership, now headed by Jared Isaacman, aims to accelerate Artemis launch schedules and bolster plans for a sustainable moon base, many Apollo veterans are seeing a renewed sense of hope. Isaacman’s approach is already marked by a test flight to practice lunar docking operations and an ambitious moon base plan, outlining a projected expenditure of $20 billion over the next seven years.

With the pressing goal of landing astronauts by 2028 to surpass China's estimated timeline of 2030, Apollo veterans are encouraged by the strategic changes but remain vigilant about maintaining the excitement seen during their own historic missions.

“I think millions are going to be watching that,” Duke said of the anticipated lunar landings of Artemis. “I know I will if I’m still here.”