Robots, Not Humans, Are The New Space Explorers
Landing a man on the moon captures the public's imagination. But in the decades after the Apollo program, robots have also generated public excitement about space exploration.
by Joe Palca
Jul 08, 2019
2 minutes
When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon 50 years ago, it was an inspiring moment for people around the world.
But another kind of explorer is responsible for much of the modern enthusiasm for space exploration.
"Since the days of Apollo the greatest adventures in space have been these robots that have gone all over the solar system," says Emily Lakdawalla, a self-described planetary evangelist at the
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