Back to the Moon 1x54

On February 6, 2018, the world watched as the first Falcon Heavy rocket blasted toward the heavens. It was the most powerful rocket to leave Earth since the iconic Saturn V lifted 12 Apollo astronauts to the Moon over four decades ago. With millions watching via web-stream and Twitter, it became clear: 21st century crewed space travel is making a comeback. And we are going Back to the Moon…

On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic moon landing, NOVA looks ahead to the hoped-for dawn of a new age in space travel. This time, governments and private industry are sharing the work of reaching our nearest celestial neighbor. But why go back? The reasons are varied. The Moon can serve as a platform for basic astronomical research; as an abundant source of precious materials like rare metals and hydrogen fuel; and ultimately as a stepping stone for human missions to Mars, the Asteroid Belt, and beyond. Join the next generation of engineers that aim to take us to the Moon, and discover how our legacy of lunar exploration won’t be confined to the history books for long.

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