I have to admit I cried. When NASA’s space capsule Integrity touched the Pacific Ocean, it’s red parachutes like great flowers decorating a crown, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was surprised that I was so emotional, but the whole Artemis II moon mission had been the most amazing, astonishing adventure. The ending was just as wonderful as the beginning. I can hardly wait for the next part of the story.
It was also a refreshing reminder that we, humanity, are capable of doing Great Things. We do not need to waste our time and efforts on pointless wars, on pouring petty hatreds on each other, on the daily disappointments that feel omnipresent lately.
We can do better; we can do much more.
My fascination with space travel started in childhood, when the Apollo missions were offered to us like a completely American form of magic. I would tune in and sit on the edge of my seat, counting down to the launch, reaching out for the return, feeling closely connected to all of it. NASA is the only thing that makes me feel what I consider to be patriotism.
There is nothing that inspires or even interests me about SpaceY or NavyBlue or any of that private corporate nonsense. Those are just branches broken off of a much older and more noble tree, by people who don’t understand what integrity is or why it is required. Another launch at Vandenberg? They are just using our-taxes-paid-for-this-infrastructure for their own profit. Thievery so blatant, I feel like every private rocket should be painted with the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger. Nothing to see here…
Artemis II was a reminder of an America I’ve almost forgotten could exist; knowledgable, creative, cooperative, forward thinking. The expertise was essential. The conversations with the astronauts were so insightful. The intimacy of being able have that connection to scientists while they work in space.
I fell in love with Greek mythology when I was in grade school, and once you have the names of the old gods, it’s just the next step to look up at the night sky and discover constellations. The same stories, along with some I had never read before, laced into the darkness like embroidered jewels.
It wasn’t that I was wanting to go up in a rocket or hoping to live on another planet; it’s just that it was all so beautiful. Connecting the ancient past with plans and dreams of the future. A narrative arc seemingly bigger than our understanding of time.
The future I dreamed of seems to be happening; the Control Rooms I watched when I was a child were universally populated by men. This time, Houston looked to be at least fifty percent female if not even more so. When we include everyone’s expertise, the sum is so much greater than the parts.
Artemis, of course, is known in classical Greek mythology the twin sister of Apollo. But there is now a large field of archeological evidence that she is a much, much older goddess. Temples and shrines dedicated to her date far back before the classical period. The evidence we have now seems to point to Apollo being added on rather late in the story, and taking over some of her aspects like healing and music that were appropriated for a more masculine culture.
That the capsule was named Integrity offers us so much.
The story that comes down to us told of Pandora’s Box releasing one last thing – Hope – after all the evils had flown out into the world. Imagine if there is one final, longed for quality that could be following after that.
We can do a lot with Integrity. We are just at the beginning of the next part of the story.
Judith Martin-Straw
