America’s Return to the Moon with Artemis II
This year, America is set to return to the moon, and interestingly, the mission’s pilot is a deeply religious individual. He made headlines when he took a communion cup with him into orbit and participated in church services through livestream.
NASA’s Artemis II has a planned launch in February, aiming to orbit the moon with a crew of four. This mission could experience several launches throughout the year, depending on various factors like weather or technical readiness.
The initial launch window opens on February 6, and the mission itself is expected to last around ten days. Although the astronauts won’t land on the moon, it still marks a significant milestone as the first manned mission to the moon since the Apollo missions of the 1970s. Artemis II will lay important groundwork for future lunar explorations and possibly journeys to Mars.
This mission shares similarities with Apollo 8 and Apollo 10, both of which orbited the moon and were critical in preparation for the historically significant Apollo 11 mission, which saw Neil Armstrong walk on the lunar surface.
Pilot Victor Glover leads the mission, joined by Commander Reed Wiseman, NASA mission specialist Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
Glover, who previously served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station during Expedition 64, made it a point to bring Bibles along. He participated in livestreamed church services while in orbit, which was, he mentioned, an important aspect of his space journey.
In a reflection at a church service in Wharton, Texas, Glover discussed his faith and the growth he experienced while serving in space. He mentioned how he was able to worship and receive Holy Communion regularly from orbit.
“NASA supported our desire to worship while I was off Earth,” he shared, emphasizing the importance of faith in his life.
He also referenced scripture, mentioning how the apostle Peter encourages believers to continuously grow in faith. He remarked, “I think the world needs all of that right now,” highlighting a feeling of urgency for faith and connection in today’s world.
Glover urged the congregation not to become stagnant, regardless of how long they have been on their spiritual journey. “We all need to grow,” he said, underlining the idea that Jesus is the peace the world currently lacks.
Discussing the diverse nature of the International Space Station crew, Glover noted the mix of different faiths and beliefs present. He expressed enjoyment in conversing about deep topics—like God—while gazing at Earth from their unique vantage point.
He recalled evenings spent together with crew members of various backgrounds, emphasizing the human desire to connect and share experiences.
