GoKawiilAlthough led by NASA, Artemis II wasn’t just a US achievement; the mission was a collaborative effort. Long may such cooperation continue.
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captures the Moon and Earth in one frame.Credit: NASA
When NASA’s Artemis II mission came back down to Earth on 10 April, so, too, did the dreams of the millions who had followed its journey. Over a ten-day period, four astronauts flew to the Moon and back, becoming the first people to visit Earth’s satellite in more than half a century, and travelling farther than anyone has gone before.
Historic Artemis II Moon fly-by: Nature’s live coverage as it happened
Judging by the breadth and depth of international media coverage, many have been inspired by the voyage. However, the mission has also encountered scepticism — and even cynicism — about its motivation, as well as the value of crewed space flight. Its occurrence at a time of acute geopolitical tension, fuelled by wars in Iran and Ukraine, has stoked an already polarized debate. Meanwhile, for many, a return to the Moon seems an expensive distraction from longer-term problems on Earth, such as climate change and environmental degradation.
But there is much to celebrate. The Artemis II mission showed the world what curiosity and collaboration can achieve. It was not, strictly speaking, a scientific flight, yet it demonstrated some of the best aspects of science. Despite the conflicts and other challenges that humanity is facing on Earth, Artemis II was a global project, driven by a shared spirit of discovery.
Although NASA was at the controls, Artemis II was a multinational endeavour. The European Space Agency’s service module provided the power and propulsion needed to keep NASA’s Orion capsule going. The Canadian Space Agency cheered the presence of its astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, on board. And the space agencies of South Africa, Australia and other nations contributed tracking and other data to help monitor the spacecraft during its flight.
Staying connected
Throughout the mission — and in contrast to overtly political statements made by NASA’s administrator, Jared Isaacman — the Artemis II astronauts emphasized that they were flying not for the United States or Canada, but for all of humanity. Crew member Christina Koch reiterated the message of human connectivity after the astronauts briefly lost contact with Earth as they traversed the far side of the Moon and began their voyage home. “We will always choose each other,” she said. It was a powerful message.
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