Moon Mission
Book cover for Dark Side of the Moon

Dark Side of the Moon: The Magnificent Madness of the American Lunar Quest

Guest: Gerard DeGroot.

The massive moon craze of the 1960s was sold on a promise of a positive influence on the economy, on politics, and on American culture. It certainly made a considerable cultural impact at the time, but since that first step the American space program has been as barren as the satellite it landed on. Today on Focus, professor of modern history Gerard DeGroot joins us to discuss whether it was as big a leap for mankind as Armstrong suggested.

The Ultimate Field Trip: An Interview with Apollo 17 Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt

Guest: Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut.

The last man to walk on the moon did so in 1972. Harrison Schmitt is to date the only civilian scientist to the moon, a geologist who continues to be a strong advocate for the exploration and settlement of space. Today on Focus, he'll talk about what it's like to stand on the lunar surface, and about what lies ahead for humans in space.

The United States’ Space Program: What’s Next

Guest: Robert Zubrin.

Will astronauts ever return to the moon? Will they venture beyond our own system to other planets? This morning on Focus, we'll discuss Space Shuttle design, interplanetary travel, and Mars missions with former NASA engineer Robert Zubrin, worked on the design of advanced space transportation and propulsion as well as the development of strategies for the exploration of Mars during his time with the space agency.

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