Staff Reports
The first four astronauts to orbit the moon in 50 years met at the White House on Thursday. President Joe Biden displayed an Apollo-era moon rock in the Oval Office to fulfill his commitment to host the three-American, one-Canadian crew. Despite worries about Vice President Kamala Harris's presence, the Artemis II mission team thanked the president.
Pilot Victor Glover said, “It’s been really nice to shake their hands and tell them thank you for their leadership and making it possible for us to have this amazing journey.” However, some commentators recommend that the crew save such thankfulness for a significant milestone.
Biden hosts four NASA astronauts, the first crew aiming to fly around the moon in a half-century | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/roY9beO4KY
— koconews (@koconews) December 15, 2023
Launching in late 2024, the crew will travel around the moon before returning to Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman said they are ready to go whenever NASA approves, even though the mission may not be as exciting as lunar landing.
The crew uses simulations and works with Mission Control to prepare for a safe flight. Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian mission specialist, underlined the teamwork required to safely transport four individuals around the moon and back to the Pacific. We work with them daily.” Some critics say the focus should be on lunar landings, not Pacific Ocean splashdowns.
This is the first NASA Artemis lunar crew to include an international astronaut to promote diversity. Despite initial anticipation, unanticipated heat shield issues from the last test flight have caused delays, potentially compromising the mission.
Christina Koch, a mission specialist, complimented Biden's dedication and cited Kennedy's 1962 moon address. However, technological issues may overshadow presidential addresses' morale-boosting benefits on the crew.
From 1968 to 1972, NASA dispatched 24 men to the moon, 12 of whom landed. All astronauts assigned during this era were military-trained save Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt, a geologist who ended the moon campaign.
NASA gave the Oval Office a 3.9-billion-year-old moon rock that weighs less than a pound. The rock represents lunar exploration and was collected by Schmitt and Gene Cernan in 1972.
