Newshour NASA to launch its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than half a century
Apr 1, 2026
Charlie Duke, former NASA astronaut and Apollo 16 lunar module pilot, recalls landing and walking on the Moon. He shares vivid pre-launch nerves, the first sight of the lunar surface and Earth, a risky Moon Olympics mishap, and why lunar bases and resource use matter. Short, personal stories about life on and looking back at Earth from the Moon.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Artemis II Aims For An Apollo-Style Moment
- Artemis II is a crewed lunar flyby intended to revive public spirit and prepare for future landings.
- Pallab Ghosh compares it to Apollo 8's Earthrise moment that briefly united people amid 1960s pessimism.
Apollo Prelaunch Calm Was All About Counting
- Charlie Duke describes the tense pre-launch silence and the crew repeatedly counting during Apollo preparations.
- He recalled a 4-hour launch window and the team mantra: keep counting, because missing the window risked losing the chance to fly.
Precise Lunar Landing Came Down To Pilot Skill
- Duke recounts landing Apollo 16 precisely in a valley after John Young picked a crater-free spot.
- He described pitching forward at 7,000 feet, recognising landmarks, and feeling 'right at home' on touchdown.