Apollo 16 moon walker reflects on 50th anniversary
Video from the channel AP Archive about Apollo 16, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 2:03. Language: English. Video type: News.
Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 astronaut, looks back on the mission on its 50th anniversary. He explains it was the fifth Moon landing and that they reached the Moon on April 20, 1972.
Among his most vivid memories he cites the launch, the first view of Earth from about 20,000 miles away, the landing and the reentry. He describes the Moon as a desolate yet beautiful environment, full of contrasts, mountains and grey tones under the black of space.
On the future, he argues that NASA should focus on deep space and on returning to the Moon, leaving Earth orbit to companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin or Boeing. He is confident in a new Moon landing this decade with new spacecraft, rover and rockets.