After over 50 years without a crewed trip to the moon, NASA was finally ready to launch another mission this year. This 10-day mission featured four incredible crew members: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, as well as an adorable plushie named Rise, which was created by an eight-year-old boy, Lucas Ye.
The goal of this mission was to test the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft in the depth of space as they went around the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any humans have before. Despite the myriad of complications that could arise during the mission—especially one that has never been attempted before—the Artemis II mission crew was ready for take off.
On April 1, 2026, the Orion spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on the start of a historical journey. For the first time during a launch, people were able to watch the mission through a live stream on NASA’s official YouTube channel.
The live stream brought a sense of unity among the astronauts and the people watching. Rather than the 252,756 miles serving as a division between groups, it brought people around the world closer together.
The crew made it clear that this mission was not only for them, but for everyone on Earth. During liftoff, when each person listed who they are going on this mission for, Hansen’s response concisely stated their goal: “We are going for all humanity.”
With nearly every moment being livestreamed for the world, the astronauts allowed themselves to not only express their joy but also to express the beauty of vulnerability. Together they laughed throughout interviews, cried together after naming a bright spot on the moon after Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll, and overall showed the importance of friendship in times where fear can easily consume a person.
The friendship that blossomed between the astronauts during this mission brought hope to everyone during this time when hope is lost. Their uplifting commentary and joyful approach to a mission where fear could easily win is inspiring; it encourages people to continue chasing their dreams.
After looking through videos that have quickly spread across social media, I conclude that Koch is the most empowering and inspiring person for women across the world. Thousands of women shared their experiences of finally, for once, prioritizing themselves in their lives. Many reentered the workforce and began their pursuit of higher education because it now seemed possible with Koch’s determination.
Koch’s impact on the world demonstrates how simple it can be to create a major impact on society. What was once only a dream for her became her reality, thus setting an example for all the little girls watching this mission unfold. I am positive that, over this next decade, there will be a rise in female astronauts.
Koch made a beautiful and impactful statement after returning from the mission that I think now, more than ever, every person should know: “when you’re on the dark side of the Earth, you actually see this very thin green line that shows you where the atmosphere is. What you realize is every single person that you know is sustained and inside of that green line and everything else outside of it is completely inhospitable. You don’t see borders, you don’t see religious lines, you don’t see political boundaries. All you see is Earth and you see that we are way more alike than we are different.”
Congratulations to every member of NASA that dedicated their lives to ensuring that the Artemis II mission was successful in bringing new data from space, but most importantly, I wanted to extend a special thank you to the astronauts who proved that, if your dreams scare you, it doesn't mean you shouldn't chase them, but rather you should use that as motivation to make them a reality.
