One of the most high-profile moments will come, though, when NASA announces the members of the first crew to return to the moon since the Apollo program. In the interview, Nelson, the NASA administrator, said he hopes that will resonate with the American public as much as when NASA announced the Mercury 7, its first crew of astronauts, which included icons such as John Glenn and Alan Shepard, who became celebrities overnight.
“Remember back what it was like when the original seven were introduced and they became household names,” Nelson said. “Their personal lives were brought out, as were their families, and I think America is ready for that again.”
