WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) – Former NASA astronaut Mike Foreman returned to Wapakoneta to take part in his third Summer Moon Festival.
Foreman, who was born in Ohio, spent 26 days in space as an astronaut and completed five spacewalks to help build the International Space Station. He said his inspiration to pursue space exploration came from a fellow Ohioan.
“Well, Neil Armstrong was one of the guys that inspired me as a young kid growing up in Ohio to follow this dream of becoming an astronaut. And so without him, I'm not sure where it'd be right now, great man, great inspiration,” said Michael Foreman, former NASA astronaut.
July 20 will mark the 56th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first steps on the moon. NASA now aims to return to the lunar surface as part of its long-term mission to reach Mars. A permanent moon base is expected to serve as a stepping stone for that journey — and Foreman believes it's within reach.
“I know we're going to Mars, because humans want to go to Mars, and so eventually, we're going to push aside these little technical issues we have right now with that kind of trip, and we'll get there. We'll get humans on the planet. I hope it's when I'm still alive to see it. I think it will be,” added Foreman.
NASA’s Artemis program plans to launch its first crewed mission around the moon in early 2026, with future missions aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
