Argument: Many Apollo astronauts advocate going to Mars, not Moon

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Captain Alan Bean, The 77-year-old was part of the Apollo 12 mission and became the fourth man to walk on the Moon, sidedd with going to Mars instead of returning to the Moon: “We ought to gather the international community and go to Mars. I know it isn’t how others feel because it is much cheaper to go back to the Moon but I would rather we went to Mars. If we did it with all those other countries it would have a tremendously unifying effect on the Earth. It would be an inspiration for all people on Earth.”[1]

Buzz Aldrin: “The best way to honour and remember all those who were part of the Apollo programme is to follow in our footsteps; to boldly go again on a new mission of exploration.”[2]

Buzz Aldrin. “Commentary: Let’s aim for Mars”. CNN. June 23, 2009: “We have remained, since our Apollo days, locked in Earth orbit. But five years ago, NASA was tasked with returning to the moon by 2020, rerunning the moon race that we won 40 years ago. Not surprisingly, this new race has failed to ignite the imagination of young Americans — or their leaders.

What we truly need is not more Cold War-style competition but a destination in space that offers great rewards for the risks to achieve it. I believe that destination must be homesteading Mars, the first human colony on another world.”

Apollo astronaut Michael Collins, who circled the Moon alone while Mr Armstrong and Mr Aldrin walked on it, said Mars was more interesting than the Moon: “Sometimes I think I flew to the wrong place. Mars was always my favourite as a kid and it still is today.”[3]

Debates Relating To This Argument

• Debate: Mission to Mars
• Debate: Colonization of the Moon
• Debate: Space exploration
• Debate: Funding for space exploration
• Debate: One-way, one-person mission to Mars
• Debate: Manned mission to Mars

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Categories: Space | NASA