93-year-old Apollo 8 worker watches Artemis II take man around the moon again

Mo Oshier, who worked on the Apollo 8 mission, witnessed the Artemis II launch that mirrored his past experience.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:34am

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A bold, abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conveying the complex forces and concepts of space travel without any text or diagrams.As NASA's Artemis program takes the next step in humanity's return to the moon, the presence of an Apollo 8 veteran at the launch serves as a powerful symbol of the progress and perseverance of space exploration.Titusville Today

Mo Oshier, a 93-year-old man who worked on the Apollo 8 mission, gathered with his family at Space View Park in Titusville, Florida to witness the launch of the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the moon. Oshier participated in the Apollo 8 mission, which was the first to orbit the moon, and he wanted to see history repeat itself with the new Artemis program.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have traveled to the moon since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s. Oshier's presence at the launch as an Apollo 8 veteran provides a unique perspective on the progress of space exploration over the past six decades.

The details

Oshier worked on the Apollo 8 mission, performing various tests on the capsule to ensure the crew's safety, including vibration tests on the structure and testing of receivers. He said it was special to see another mission take man to the moon, noting 'We haven't tried one of these in a long time.'

  • The Artemis II launch took place on Wednesday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Apollo 8 mission that Oshier worked on occurred roughly 58 years ago.

The players

Mo Oshier

A 93-year-old man who worked on the Apollo 8 mission, the first to orbit the moon.

Frank F. Borman II, James A. Lovell Jr. and William A Anders

The astronauts who became the first crew to orbit the moon on the Apollo 8 mission.

Artemis II

The upcoming NASA mission that will send astronauts around the moon, the first time humans have traveled to the moon since the Apollo program.

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What they’re saying

“'We haven't tried one of these in a long time.'”

— Mo Oshier, Apollo 8 worker

“'They go through a lot of procedures while it's in the altitude chamber and after that, they move it over to the pad.'”

— Mo Oshier, Apollo 8 worker

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch astronauts around the moon in 2024, marking the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s.

The takeaway

The presence of an Apollo 8 veteran like Mo Oshier at the Artemis II launch highlights the remarkable progress of space exploration over the past six decades, as NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.