Shooting for the Moon

I’ve always had a special fascination for space, so the Artemis II mission was of particular importance to me. For the first time in over fifty years, humanity has come within 5,000 miles of the moon. But I feel as though I’m not alone in believing that this was long overdue. Modern technology has long surpassed the relatively crude spacecraft of the Apollo era.

Why, then, did this take so long? Most importantly, the Space Race ended. We no longer thought that the Soviets would steal away the high ground for moon bases and orbital cannons. It simply wasn’t worth it to risk more human lives. The construction of new technology allows us to better protect our astronauts as we send them into the new frontier of space. The Artemis II mission saw Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen travel farther from Earth than any humans in history—roughly 252,756 miles—surpassing the legendary record set by the crew of Apollo 13. The mission was a triumph of engineering under pressure. The Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built, proved it could safely loft a crewed Orion spacecraft into deep space. The crew spent ten days validating life-support systems, testing proximity operations, and even troubleshooting minor real-world issues like toilet glitches and thermal control.

These are the unglamorous but vital lessons required before we attempt a landing with Artemis III. Every minor kink needs to be worked out or else the entire mission is a failure. This mission must succeed, for it will provide a boost to future research and deliver on the promise of hopefully becoming a multi-planetary species. We, as a species, will once again land on the moon. But the real significance of this mission lies in its contrast to the Apollo era. Unlike Apollo, which was fueled by the Cold War, Artemis is built on cooperation. The successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission on April 10, 2026, marks the start of a new era. We are no longer a species bound to one world; we are, once again, voyagers.

Although this all seems so good and dandy, I have one slightly controversial opinion. I love Canada, but I don’t believe that sending Jeremy Hansen to the moon would be the best decision. There was definitely a deal behind the scenes that profited the U.S. in order to send him there, and I’m not saying he’s unqualified, it’s just that I would prefer that the moon be composed of purely U.S. crews for now, to continue the legacy of the Americans before us. I mean no offense to Jeremy Hansen or Canada, but I feel as though it would be more impactful if Canada created its own rockets with its own citizens to send to the moon. This would take a lot of time, but it would be a symbol of strength for Canada. It isn’t reliant on the U.S. In modern day, that means a lot, and waiting an extra few decades is worth it for both parties.