alt Hacker NewsAs an American I feel like I've been going through a bit of an identity crisis from what I remember growing up.
Probably the rose tinted glasses of being a child but being from Florida I always had a sense of amazement and wonder as I heard the sonic boom of the shuttle returning to earth.
Really felt like I was coexisting in this incredible scientific powerhouse of a country full of bright and enabled peoples that knew how to prioritize curiosity and innovation.
Feeling like a bit of a "vibe" post which is everything wrong lately but I can't help but feel some satisfaction that we're still able to accomplish something like this in our space endeavors.
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Many of those who saw the first moon landing as a child are still alive and remember what it felt like.
The nice thing about a public space program is everyone can share in its success!
From one of the ground staff for Artemis: https://bsky.app/profile/captnamy.bsky.social/post/3mi36brfw...
"1968 and the country was on fire. Vietnam. Assassinations. Civil unrest. Protests.
Apollo 8 was the one bright event of a terrible year.
2026 and the country is on fire. Iran. Corruption. Fascists. Civil unrest. No Kings.
I hope Artemis II will stand out as a bright spot for our country."
Some more background on her: https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/04/01/chicagoan-amy-l...
I think especially online there's a lot of emphasis on "everything is wrong". A mission like this is hard to ignore and highlights the bias. On the whole, despite setbacks, we continue.