From Hail Mary to Artemis II: People-First Spaceflight Captures the Public Imagination

Public fascination with spaceflight grows when stories center human drama and risk; as Artemis II prepares a lunar flyby to test equipment for a 2028 Moon base, the article argues that while robotic missions are practical, human missions drive public interest and geopolitical stake, even as unknown health risks from radiation and partial gravity in deep space remain a critical hurdle in pursuing Moon and Mars exploration.