Can't excitement result from understanding what a person or an event is about?
After all, it's only been a short time in the history of mankind that we can fly and even a shorter one that we go to space.
And going to visit a totally alien other world took place for several years and it was over.
The Apollo astronauts went to places where no life had gone before, they were all alone, physically and so far away. I don't think we can all grasp the meaning of this.
It all happened in our lifetime and it's so much more than our life, too; and yet, we understand this. That's why it's exciting.

Raoul