Why is NASA bothering to go back to the Moon if we've already been there?

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. —The first time NASA launched humans toward the Moon, in December 1968, the United States was a deeply fractured nation.

Following Wednesday evening's launch, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman quipped about the long break in human flights to the Moon since Apollo 17. "After a brief 54-year intermission, NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon," he said at a post-launch news conference.

It would be naive to expect such an effect across a similarly divided country today. I believe interest in Artemis II will pick up with ongoing news and social media mentions of mission highlights, including Thursday evening's translunar injection and the undoubtedly cool moments as the crew flies by the Moon on Monday. These are exceptional people doing brave things, and it's easy to cheer them on.