Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, says Apollo 8 pilot

Let the private sector send them. Don’t use taxpayer dollars.

One of the first astronauts to orbit the Moon said on Wednesday that it’s “stupid” to plan human missions to Mars.

Bill Anders, who was the lunar module pilot for NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, told BBC Radio 5 Live that sending crews to the Red Planet would be “almost ridiculous.”

The U.S. space agency’s goals include sending humans to Mars for exploration and scientific study.

“What’s the imperative? What’s pushing us to go to Mars?” Anders, 85, said, adding: “I don’t think the public is that interested.”

Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, says Apollo 8 pilot

One of the first astronauts to orbit the Moon said on Wednesday that it’s “stupid” to plan human missions to Mars. Bill Anders, who was the lunar module pilot for NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, told BBC Radio 5 Live that sending crews to the Red Planet would be “almost ridiculous.”