040626 ~ April Skywatch! - Dr. Buddy Stark

For the first time since 1972, humans are on the verge of returning to the moon — and Dr. Buddy Stark, director of the University of Michigan Planetarium, reveals why NASA’s Artemis II mission is a historic milestone. Unlike the Apollo missions, this isn’t just a landing attempt; it’s a high-stakes test flight to validate the safety of the new SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft with crew aboard. The astronauts will orbit the moon’s far side — the first humans to see craters never before witnessed by human eyes — before splashing down off the coast of San Diego on April 10th. Stark emphasizes that while launch and reentry remain the most dangerous phases, the mission’s success hinges on proving the system is safe for future lunar landings. Beyond the technical triumph, he shares the profound psychological impact astronauts report: a deep, shared realization of Earth’s fragility and isolation in space. This moment of cosmic perspective, he says, is what makes space exploration not just scientific, but existential. The mission also sets the stage for Artemis III, expected in 2028–2029, which will land humans on the moon again — and ultimately serve as a launchpad for Mars missions in the 2030s. With Mars being the only other planet with potential for human habitation, the search for past life — including mysterious oolitic limestone that could hint at ancient biology — continues through rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity, though definitive proof remains elusive.