Last astronaut to walk on the moon explained why no one has been back in 50 years

For Jim Bridenstine, the barrier to deep space wasn’t technology—it was political hesitation. Programs stalled, costs grew, and fear of failure kept humanity close to Earth when we could have gone farther.

Artemis II aims to change that. Its crew carries not just equipment, but personal stories and quiet courage. Where politics once held us back, that human resolve may be what finally pushes us beyond orbit and back toward the Moon.