Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden: reflections on the universe, spaceflight and humanity's future beyond Earth.

In this exclusive 2017 conversation, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden shares a rare and candid look into his experience as one of only 24 humans to journey to the Moon.

From witnessing an undiminished universe beyond the lunar shadow to his views on humanity's destiny among the stars, Al opens up about his time in space, NASA's future on Mars, and why the real purpose of the space program is survival of the species.

“All of a sudden I saw just light. So many stars you couldn't see an individual one. And you realize the universe is vast, we're a tiny part of it, and there's no question there's life out there.”Al Worden

Some questions I ask

• How did your perspective on life and the universe change after Apollo 15?
• What was it like to see the stars in deep space, away from Earth's atmosphere?
• Do you believe intelligent life exists beyond our planet?
• What do you think of NASA's current plans to reach Mars?
• Why do you believe humanity's survival depends on space exploration?
• What advice do you have for young people aspiring to become astronauts?
• Who left the biggest impression on you during your post-flight world tour?

In this episode, you will learn

• The “orbital effect” and how seeing Earth from space changes perspective forever
• Why Al believes other intelligent civilizations are likely out there
• How Apollo missions influenced technology far beyond spaceflight
• The unspoken role of command module pilots versus moonwalkers
• Lessons from space exploration that apply to humanity's long-term survival
• The challenges, and shortcomings, of NASA's current Mars plans
• Al's advice for anyone chasing big, unlikely dreams

Other show notes

• Buy Al Worden's book: Falling to Earth
• Learn about SETI and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
• Explore NASA's Artemis and Mars mission plans
• Watch Mr. Rogers' episodes featuring Al Worden