As the astronauts of NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in half a century reached their closest approach to the moon, the team’s pilot reminded the Earth of Jesus Christ’s command to love both God and neighbour. Source: OSV News.
“As we get close to the nearest point to the moon and 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,” said astronaut Victor Glover, pilot of the Artemis II mission, speaking to ground control on April 6 from aboard the spacecraft.
“Christ said, in response to what was the greatest command, that it was to love God with all you are,” Captain Glover said. “And he also, being a great teacher, said the second is equal to it. And that is to love your neighbour as yourself.”
Captain Glover — a Christian who has spoken publicly about his faith, citing Psalm 30 during his previous mission to the International Space Station — shared that message minutes before facing an anticipated 40-minute communication lapse with ground control as the spacecraft passed behind the moon, with radio and laser signals consequently blocked.
The craft was launched on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a 10-day journey that would take the crew around the moon, spanning 1.1 million kilometres from launch to splashdown off the coast of San Diego.
Artemis II travelled a record-breaking maximum distance of 407,000kms from the Earth, further than the 1970 Apollo 13 mission.
Joining Captain Glover in space are commander Reid Wiseman and two mission specialists — Christina Koch and astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to undertake a lunar mission.
Artemis II’s priorities focus on preparing for deep space exploration by humans and laying the groundwork for what NASA calls “a sustained presence on the Moon.”
Moments before the April 6 period of loss of signal — which ended as scheduled, with the crew safely emerging on a homeward bound trajectory — Captain Glover said, “As we prepare to go out of radio communication, we’re still able to feel your true love from Earth. And to all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you from the moon.”
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Sermon on the Integrity: Artemis II mission pilot preaches Christ’s command to love on lunar flyby (By Gina Christian, OSV News)