12 years from Sputnik to the Moon. Then 54 years of waiting.

Sputnik launched 69 years ago today. Twelve years later, humans walked on the Moon. The last one left in 1972. Nobody has walked there since.

This spring, four astronauts flew around the Moon.

Farthest humans ever from Earth.

Celebrated as history.

Apollo 8 did the same trip in 1968.

We spent 58 years getting back to where we were.

Next landing: 2028. Maybe.

Moon base: "first steps" planned.

Planned.

Apollo at its peak: about 4% of the US federal budget.

NASA today: under half a percent.

Fear paid for the Moon. Curiosity doesn't pay that well.

Progress isn't a law of nature. It's a budget line.

Space didn't die. It went commercial. Satellites, GPS, cheap rockets. It stayed close to home, because close to home pays.