> So we're re-creating the Apollo 8 Mission 60 years later.

Not even: Apollo 8[0] went into orbit around the moon (orbited 10 times), then left lunar orbit to return to Earth. This required mission-critical rocket burns both to enter (LOI) and exit (TEI) lunar orbit. Artemis II[1] is merely doing a "fly-by"; it'll never enter lunar orbit, a much less challenging/risky mission.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8#Lunar_orbit

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II#Lunar_flyby

Space race notwithstanding, maybe less risky isn't such a bad idea.

Thank you for those links. Haven’t read them in a while.

It really makes you appreciate what the Apollo program achieved. Really amazing.