Ajit Karn
Monday, NASA unveiled the personnel for its first human mission to the Moon in more than half a century, including the first woman and African-American male to travel into deep space. The Artemis II personnel consists of four individuals: Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover. Following the historic announcement, US President Joe Biden called the Artemis II crew to wish them luck on their journey to the Moon. Mr. Biden also invited them to visit him at the White House with their children.
A video of their telephone conversation was posted to President Biden’s official Twitter account with the following caption: “The @NASA Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon will inspire the next generation of explorers and show every child – in the United States, Canada, and around the world – that if they can dream it, they can achieve it.”
The @NASA Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon will inspire the next generation of explorers, and show every child – in America, in Canada, and across the world – that if they can dream it, they can be it. pic.twitter.com/X8q3GLTBiQ
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 3, 2023
During the phone exchange, Mr. Biden thanked the personnel for their extraordinary service. With the mission you are about to undertake, the United States will be able to return humans to the Moon. After more than 50 years, it is difficult to believe. Worst of all, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news that man had landed on the moon. It simply means that you are moving rapidly,” with hilarity following.
The crew then responds, “We absolutely want to begin, the crew would like to begin with.Thank you for your confidence. This mission will make both the United States and Canada proud. Thousands of individuals from both nations and from all over the world are laboring to ensure the successful launch of Artemis II. Thank you for entrusting this crew with your and our nation’s confidence.
The President then extended an invitation for their children to tour the White House. He addressed them and stated, “Well, I’ll tell you what, you should be proud of your parents. It is simply extraordinary.
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Notably, astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, an engineer who holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, will be the first woman to travel to the Moon. NASA has designated Victor Glover, a U.S. Navy aviator and four-time spacewalk veteran, as the operator of Artemis II. He will be the first African-American astronaut to embark on a lunar mission.
Before returning, Artemis II will travel approximately 6,400 miles (10,300 km) beyond the far side of the moon, signifying the closest approach humans have made to Earth’s natural satellite since Apollo 17, which brought Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt to the lunar surface in December 1972.
