If you really think about it, the fact that humans managed to step foot on the moon in 1969 is absolutely mind-boggling. It remains one of humanity’s greatest feats and continues to capture the hearts and minds of people all over the world. That’s why in honor of the Apollo missions’ 50th year anniversary, we’re making outer space the theme of the Optimist Daily this week.
After all, the Apollo mission was more than just an engineering victory: it completely changed our understanding of the solar system. Humans were able to gather moon rocks, instantly providing a time capsule of the solar system, which led to new hypotheses about its history. Still, there remains so much to learn about the moon—and if humans do want to become an interplanetary species, then we’re going to have spend more time in space. The moon, just a three-day journey away, is a great place to do that.
At the moment, NASA is working toward establishing a more permanent human presence on and around the moon. The mission is called “Artemis,” after the Greek goddess of hunting, who is also the twin sister of Apollo. It’s a fitting name, as NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has promised that the mission will deliver the first woman to the moon.
