Cosmic Perspectives from Amid the Stars

The countdown has begun. Part of the groundbreaking Artemis Program, the Artemis II launch is nearly upon us. No later than April of 2026 will Artemis II launch with the first crewed trip to the Moon in over 50 years. Apollo 17 marked the end of an era in 1972 when it departed from the Moon with the final crew to ever make the voyage. Since then, humans have never strayed farther from Earth than low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station.

It’s been over fifty years since the last human set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission. On December 14, 1972, the last ship of the Apollo Program left the Moon, ending the historic three-and-a-half-year era of discovery and exploration. The Apollo Program was the only time in history where humans went beyond low-Earth orbit and set foot on another celestial body. That’s all about to change.