There's only 9 of them left...

These nine out of the original twelve had the opportunity to gaze back at our planet from another world. I recommend the book "In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth: Moondust," by Andrew Smith.

Apollo 11
Commander Neil A. Armstrong (August 5, 1930 - )
Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. (January 20, 1930 - )

Apollo 12
Lunar Module Pilot Alan L. Bean (March 15, 1932 - )

Apollo 14
Lunar Module Pilot Edgar D. Mitchell (September 17, 1930 - )

Apollo 15
Commander David R. Scott (June 6, 1932 - )

Apollo 16
Commander John W. Young (September 24, 1930 - )
Lunar Module Pilot Charles M. Duke, Jr. (October 3, 1935 - )

Apollo 17
Commander Eugene A. Cernan (March 14, 1934 - )
Lunar Module Pilot Harrison H. "Jack" Schmitt (July 3, 1935 - )

These men are now in their mid 60's to mid 70's. By the time we go back to the Moon (estimated to be either 2018 or 2020 by NASA or the Bush Administration), these men may not be here to see it.

Will the US be able to endure the next decade to help revigorate the NASA Space Program? While some congressman may believe in the Vision for Space Exploration initiative, some want to get out of the space program altogether, end its participation in the International Space Station (ISS), and just focus on projects that are more lower-to-mid orbit space missions. Is it possible we may cede space exploration to the Chinese or the European Agency? Do we want to just watch and see the Chinese or the Europeans set up moon bases? These are all possiblities that could happen.

Or is it also possible that private space exploration may lead the way instead of a NASA-led bureaucracy? We got suborbital flight service just beyond the horizon. Will the success of SpaceShipOne lead to a privatized space industry that could accomplish more than the US government?

Link: Vision for Space Exploration

Link: The Project Apollo Archive