Charles Bolden on moon landings

Ron Cowen reports from the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — Newly appointed NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, during the question-and-answer portion of his policy talk January 5, offered this perspective:

“If you told me in 1980, when I was a young astronaut candidate, that we wouldn’t be back on the moon today, I would have told you you were smoking dope.”

Bolden said he would emphasize collaborations with international partners as a way to pool money for projects big and small. Sending humans to Mars might still be a goal, but it would happen “very gradually,” he said.

Science News from the American Astronomical Society meeting:

New-found galaxies may be farthest back in time and space yet

Plenty of black holes do-si-do

Parting Eta Carinae’s clouds reveals more clouds

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