The publication examines the current state of NASA's program to return humans to the Moon and the technical and organizational gaps associated with it. At the center of the article is the story of engineer Richard Spaulding, who describes his motivation in simple terms: the desire to see a rocket launch and know that he personally contributed to its creation. For him, what matters is not a specific position or mission, but the awareness of making a real contribution to the common cause of space exploration. The author uses Spaulding's story as a starting point for a broader discussion of the challenges facing NASA's lunar program, including technical, logistical, and personnel aspects. It is noted that a successful return to the Moon requires not only funding and political will, but also an influx of specialists capable of solving complex engineering problems. The article emphasizes the human dimension of the space program — behind large-scale government projects stand specific people with personal motivation, whose work often goes unnoticed by the general public. Spaulding's story serves as an illustration of how the personal ambitions of engineers and scientists intertwine with the global goals of space exploration.