Flora Lichtman

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Hey, it's Flora Lichtman and you're listening to Science Friday.

Last Friday, some red and white striped parachutes opened and four Earthlings returned safely home.

Throughout the journey, we heard the Artemis II astronauts talk about moon joy, awe, wonder.

And without exception, we heard them talk about their families.

Here's Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman in remarks after the mission.

My next guest knows what it's like to be on the other side.

Dr. Tracy Scott is the child of Apollo commander David R. Scott, who went to space three times and was the seventh person to walk on the moon.

Now Tracy is a sociologist at Emory University who studies the lives and families of moonshot era astronauts.

And she's here to give us a glimpse into astronaut life from the perspective of the family members who orbit them and to weigh in on how this moonshot era compares to the first.

Tracy, thank you for being here.

Tracy, what has it been like for you to watch this mission?