Artemis II, NASA, Humans, and the Inspiration I drew: 54 Photos that Inspire!

Artemis II mission just ended. Well, it did not end, for it is just a drop in the ocean of the wonders we plan to do ahead with the help of God the Almighty, right? Well, I would like you to know that Artemis II inspired me and tranformed me beyond my expectations. As such, it is my honor to put down a bit of that experience in these few words and of course the photos that I thought are very touching. This is Miklah Blog and you will love it.

From Apollo 11 to Artemis II

When humans first landed on the moon in 1969, I was not yet born. As such, while I read about it from history, I am not moved that much! It was great, yes, but, yeah, I had never felt any big deal! According to NASA, we landed on the moon on July 20th, 1969.

The record goes like; Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Lunar Module Eagle in the Sea of Tranquility, with Armstrong becoming the first person to step onto the surface, followed by Aldrin.

From the above words, it is dramatic and inspirational. However, for the most of us who were not there, it does not feel that moving!

This is different when it comes to Artemis II. For Artemis II, I followed the mission from the start to finish and, for every bit of it, it felt like I was part of it, like my humanity was up there being carried in the bodies of those four astronauts. In fact, it was emotional, personal, and transformational. But what was transformational about it?

Inspirations from Artemis II

I will not waste your time. So here are a few inspirations that I drew from the experience.

1. Science is a gift from God. I am grateful to science everyday. Science has enabled us to really see more beauty than we would without it. As such, Science brings us closer to God’s beauty. It makes us appreciate God’s complexities and mysteries much more than we would. If we claim to depart away from God because of science, then it is not science that we have; it is ignorance.
2. The universe, the earth, and everything in it, good and bad, all are on or in the grand plan of the master. Sometimes, some people think they have a bigger mandate than God’s. We can sometimes assume to fight and organize stuff for God. However, Artemis II views and the more space science I sipped on due to this mission taught me that everything is planned and with all variations or alternative accounted for. Our God, the designer of the universe is never caught by surprises. So no matter how far, hard, low or soft anyone or anything pushes life, they are all still within God’s mighty plan. This should encourage you.
3. The earth and humans are special. This is not because they are better, but because they were graciously considered. So the speciality is not inborn; it is imparted. Surely, in the vast of the universe, how come the earth is this warm, inhabitable, and really beautiful. Of course, we do not know anything yet, for there could even be much better earths than this. However, in what we already know, the earth is our perfect home, and we are a special specie in it. We should live a life of gratefulness.
4. We are a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things. Artemis II opened me to space science and I explored planets, solar systems, stars, galaxies, and the universe. Well, I discovered that some planets, for example, Jupiter, can swallow more than 1000 earths and would still need more. And yet some other planets can swallow hundreds or thousands of Jupiter and still feel nothing! The sun appears hot and massive, right? But some other suns or stars are even much more massive! This should humble us. We are not all there is!
5. Artemis II inspired me to dream big and not put a limit to anything. What is impossible today might be possible tomorrow. As such, i should open and free my mind just as the space is open.
6. Lastly, we are foolish when we fight and kill each other. I have no words to express how I grasped this inspiration. Like in the grand scheme of things, of the universe, we are all that we have. We only have ourselves on this beautiful tiny planet. Why kill each other when there are countless other things that could kill us. And we kill ourselves for what? What resources really make killing each other worth it? In the grand scheme of things, no resources are too fancy! They are all useless and meaningless. As I watched those guys in the space, I did not see the use of money, buildings, cars, and power. All I saw was humanity trying to survive. Can’t we just do that?

Anyway, there is even more. However, I pray and hope that God will speak to you too, in your own way.

Artemis II: Specific inspirations from Victor Glover, one of the Astronauts.

To prove the point that scinece helps us to see more of God’s glory and proclaim His name, we need to look at some of the personal comments from the astronauts themselves. For Artemis II, the one that caught my attention is Victor Glover. Let us sip on his commentaries and see.

Right a day before Easter or it was already Easter here in Uganda, Artemis II crew members had an interview with CBS News and, during the interview, each was asked to say a thing or two. When it was Victor Glover‘s turn to give a comment, he looked at us from the space, and said this:

“I don’t have anything prepared,” he started, almost losing words to express his feelings or position. “I think these observances are important, and as we are so far from Earth and looking back at the beauty of creation, I think for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is I can really see Earth as one thing,”

“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, this spaceship. You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth, but you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos,”

He then added this:

“I think maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you – and I’m trying to tell you, just, trust me, you are special,”

And he finished the whole comment like this:

“In all of this emptiness, this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe – you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together. 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 got to get through this together.”

As they neared the point of the moon flyby where, as expected, communication with the earth was no longer possible, Victor said this as they prepared to momentarily disconnect with humanity:

“As we get close to the nearest point to the moon and the farthest point from Earth – as we continue to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos – I would like to remind you of one of the most important mysteries there on Earth, and that’s love. Christ said, in response to what was the greatest command, that it was to love God with all that you are – and He also, being a great teacher – said the second is equal to it, and that is to love your neighbor as yourself.

“And so as we prepare to go out of radio communication, I feel the love from the Earth and, to all of you down there on Earth and around the Earth, we love you from the moon.”

What more authentic inspiration would we need than from the astronauts themselves!

Apparently, records say the same thing happened with Apollo 8 astronauts. According to HeartLanderNews, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders took turns reading from Genesis 1 as more than 1 billion people listened and looked at the moon surface on the then black and white television screens. The inspirational comment went like this:

“For all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you,” one of the crew members (Anders) said as he (or they) started reading from the book of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the Earth.”

What do you think? Science makes us see God’s wonders and we simply have no other alternative but to praise Him. One scholar says that when creation sees God’s glory, worship becomes automatic or default.

And King David had said it plainly: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalms 19:1, NIV). What more would we need to see, know, and believe that our God is a marvellous one, one who deserves our respect, worship, praise, obedience, and indeed friendship!

May God bless you as you read all of this.

I did some few inspirational videos too during the launch and journey around the moon. In one of the videos, I comment on the most inspirational quote or words from astronaut Victor Glover. Enjoy my short inspirational videos.

Artemis II: The Photos that Caught my Spirit, my soul.

Sip on these photos, and see the beauty of life beyond you and me, and yet so full of me and you. Love life with passion and grace, and love your neighbor too. We do not have serious enemies; we all are tiny matters in the grand scheme of things!

Artemis II Splashdown or Landing and Recovery

Artemis II: Conclusion and take-home

As I reflect on the Artemis II mission, I see it as far more than a technical achievement—it is a powerful meeting point of science, humanity, and faith. Gazing at the fragile beauty of Earth, suspended like a carefully crafted oasis in the vast silence of space, I am reminded that we are one people, sharing one home, where our divisions lose meaning.

This journey into the cosmos does not pull us away from God; instead, it draws us closer, revealing a universe marked by precision, order, and intention.

To me, this points unmistakably to a Master Planner—a perfect Creator whose design is both vast and deeply personal. In the end, as the heavens quietly declare His glory, exploration becomes more than discovery; it becomes a pathway to faith, reminding us that we are united, we are intentional, and we are held within a perfect and loving plan.

And thank you for reading through. Please, share the article if it inspires you. Thank you.