NASA’s Artemis II crewed lunar flyby has inspired reflection, unity, and prayer, astronaut Victor Glover said on April 5 from aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity. The spacecraft launched April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a ten-day journey around the moon.
The mission marks NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in more than fifty years. It aims to prepare for deeper space exploration and lay the foundation for what NASA describes as “a sustained presence on the Moon.” With global tensions ongoing, such as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Glover said the flight is also an opportunity to reaffirm human dignity and togetherness.
“I think, as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover told CBS News.
Glover is joined by commander Reid Wiseman; Christina Koch; and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—the first Canadian assigned to a lunar mission. Their trip will cover over 695,000 miles before returning with a splashdown off San Diego. At its farthest point from Earth—252,760 miles—the mission will surpass Apollo 13’s record by more than 4,100 miles.
Reflecting on his faith during an interview with CBS News’ Mark Strassmann on Easter Sunday aboard Orion Integrity—while looking back at Earth—Glover said: “When I read the Bible and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us who were created — you have this amazing place… you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe.” He added: “Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special… just trust me — you are special.”
As Orion prepared to pass behind the moon on April 6—a maneuver causing a forty-minute communications blackout—Glover encouraged hopefulness. Speaking earlier with BBC News he said: “When we’re behind the Moon out of contact with everybody let’s take that as an opportunity. Let’s pray hope send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”
The Artemis II mission continues NASA’s efforts toward renewed human activity beyond low-Earth orbit while carrying messages of unity amid uncertainty.
