> The fact that humanity sent people back to the moon barely even registered.

Are you sure that people would have cared much even in better times?

Although I'm just as subject to the fatigue as everyone else, this just isn't a pursuit that I see as important.

TBH I think dealing with global warming, cancer, homelessness, AI impact on human cognitive development, and the loneliness epidemic are far higher priorities.

If I recall correctly opinion polling on the original Apollo program wasn't universally positive either. Space missions don't impress people who want money spent on the ground, it etc