How the flight of Artemis II brought us together

The crew of the Artemis II have returned to Earth, covered in glory, having splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. They have returned to a planet riven by war and political division. But their mission seems to have brought humans on Earth together in support and awe of the first voyage to the moon in many decades.

The political class across party lines seemed to be all-in on the mission. While President Trump can be expected to celebrate the launch of Artemis II, since it was his initiative, he was joined by Sen Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and even former President Barack Obama.

Kelly, as a former astronaut, could be expected to wish the crew of Artemis II well, But during Trump’s first term, he opposed the Artemis return to the moon program. Obama had cancelled the previous return to the moon effort, dubbed Constellation, and even ridiculed the idea of returning to the moon in a speech at the Kennedy Space Center.

One might be gracious and conclude the erstwhile opponents of a return to the moon program have had a change of heart. Or, perhaps, being politicians, they have latched onto a newly popular undertaking. The reader can decide.

But what about the public at large? It turns out that Americans have rallied around the Artemis astronauts during their epic voyage around the moon.

In an Ipsos Poll taken before the Artemis II crew soared around the moon, 76 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that “the U.S. space program makes them feel proud.”........

© The Hill