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.

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: 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 vanity!

Artemis II Splashdown or Landing and Recovery