By JACKIE TAYLOR | April 8, 2026

Apollo...Artemis II

The old saying concerning how fast time flies is no kidding. I mention that because, according to ABCNews.com, “Four astronauts will soon partake in a 685,000-mile historic journey to the moon.

“The Artemis II rocket launch, scheduled for Wednesday evening, will mark the first time humans have flown beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission that landed on the moon in 1972.”

It was a few short years ago that I remember gathering in parents’ friends’ basement, July 1969, to watch their black and white television when Apollo 11 took off for the moon. Later, included in that watch party was the walk on the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Wikipedia stated, “Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon, and the fifth crewed mission of NASA’s Apollo program. The mission was crewed by Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, all of whom were on their second and final spaceflight.

“Launched atop a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 16 at 13:32 UTC,..a three-day transit, Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface aboard the LM Eagle, landing in the Sea of Tranquility on July 20 at 20:17 UTC while Collins remained in lunar orbit aboard the CM Columbia. Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon approximately six hours after landing, followed by Aldrin nineteen minutes later. Together they spent around two and a half hours walking on the surface, planting an American flag, speaking by telephone with President Richard Nixon, deploying scientific instruments, and collecting 21.5 kg (47.5 lb) of lunar material. After more than 21 hours on the surface, they rejoined Collins in lunar orbit, and the crew returned safely to Earth on July 24, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.”

Move forward 54 years and Americans again huddled by their television, tablet or phone to watch the blast-off of the Artemis II rocket bound for several lunar fly-arounds.

I found myself staring at the Fox News broadcast of the rocket lift-off both spellbound at the historical event, and praying that the astronauts made it up and back to earth safely.

I don’t think there is an American alive, of age, that watched the lift-off without thinking about the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; when, according to Britannica.com, “after its launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 28, 1986, the disaster claimed the lives of seven astronauts.”

I was sitting in a dental chair in Phoenix, Ariz. when the shuttle blew up, an accident that most people have ingrained in their minds.

But the Artemis II left the earth without a hitch and our astronauts, including one Canadian, are flying around the moon doing what astronauts do for 10 days.

What I found interesting was how the news media is acting with Artmis II, like it’s the first manned spaceship to the moon. Over the past few years, since covid, tin-hat theories exploded stating the first lunar landing never occurred – and if it did, it was in a Hollywood backroom.

Given technology in the 1969, or lack thereof, I’m inclined to think the lunar landing actually occurred; the Deep State was not quite as advanced as it is today.

At times, maybe I’m used to technology being worlds ahead, I don’t quite comprehend what it takes to get people back to the dark side of the moon when we were there 54 years ago. Now, talk is about landing on Mars and exploring the red planet. What am I missing?

I get it, the dark is scary, unknown, more science involved – but flying to Mars where we’ve never been seems more of a challenge.

Anyway, I’m excited to see our space industry moving forward. The moon should be explored, and the United States should be at the forefront of that exploration.

Lord willing, the Artemis II astronauts come back safe, sound and full of new-found information. I’m going to enjoy when we actually set up a tiny home on the moon. Home Depot is next, and a Sonic.