WAPAKONETA, Ohio – Former NASA astronaut Mike Foreman returned to Wapakoneta to attend his third Summer Moon Festival.
Foreman, who was born in Ohio, spent 26 days in space as an astronaut and completed five spacewalks to assist with the construction of the International Space Station. He stated that his inspiration to pursue space exploration came from a fellow Ohioan.
“Well, Neil Armstrong was one of the guys who inspired me as a young kid growing up in Ohio to pursue my dream of becoming an astronaut.” And without him, I’m not sure where we’d be right now; he’s a great man and an inspiration,” said Michael Foreman, a former NASA astronaut.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first steps on the moon were 56 years ago on July 20. NASA plans to return to the lunar surface as part of its long-term mission to Mars. A permanent moon base is expected to serve as a stepping stone on that journey, and Foreman believes it is attainable.
“I know we’re going to Mars because humans want to go there, and we’ll get there eventually, despite the minor technical issues we’re having right now with that type of trip. We’ll get humans onto the planet. I hope I’m still alive to see it. “I believe it will be,” added Foreman.
NASA’s Artemis program intends to launch its first crewed mission around the moon in early 2026, with subsequent missions aimed at landing astronauts on the lunar surface.
