Apollo's Accomplishments

On July 20, 1969, Astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Neil Armstrong of Apollo 11 landed on the moon. A few years later on December 14, 1972, the astronauts of Apollo 17 became the last manned mission to the moon. It seems inconceivable that 43 years later, these footprints left by Apollo 17 astronauts were the last of any man. Even more disturbing is the lack of a permanent commemoration or memorial to the accomplishment of those 12 astronauts that made the perilous journey. With all of the advancements in technology as evidenced by the many unmanned missions to other planets, minor planets, and moons in our solar system, why haven't we sent men back to the moon? If we ever plan to set foot on Mars, then we better get back into the habit of sending men to the moon; therefore, if we are unsure of that feat, then a manned mission to Mars is even more perilous a journey. The purpose of the Apollo program and the driving force behind our mission to land a man on the moon. The mission of the Apollo program was a manned landing on the moon before the end of decade of the 1960s. In 1969, the goal of landing a man on the moon was accomplished; however, due to budget cuts and the accomplishment of the mission the program ended 1972 after Apollo 17. The goals for this program was
The Constellation program was to further manned space exploration after the completion of the International Space Station. The program was not without vision, it wasn't just about the extended human presence on the moon; rather, the moon was a just one goal in a larger mission. This larger mission would move on to new directions and goals. Specifically, Mars would be the next stop for a manned mission. It simply wasn't just one goal to land on the moon anymore; however, that vision and those goals would be put on hold indefinitely in 2010 by President Obama's recommendation for