We have liftoff!

As I write this, the Artemis II crew has just launched into space, beginning their mission to the Moon. They'll fly by the Moon as part of their free-return trajectory on April 5th or 6th, but along the way, the views are going to be amazing! I am so excited that a Moon mission is something being experienced by such a diverse crew, bringing this experience to people with unique life experiences and perspectives. 

As Grand Valley State University's resident "space expert," I've had a busy week! Several calls and Zooms with media, and, coincidentally a couple of public facing articles that I'm happy to send your way. 

I'm not ashamed to jump on a bandwagon and as a big fan of Andy Weir and his heartwarming, thrilling book (and now movie) Project Hail Mary , I wanted to share how reluctant astronaut Ryland Grace exemplifies a quality I've seen in many astronauts and space professionals I've interviewed, intellectual humility. My article at The Conversation explores this connection. 

Some of you know that I'm one of the co-founders and co-organizers of Grand Rapids' annual Roger That! event, named for hometown astronaut Roger B. Chaffee. In addition to our event, there are many local places and things named for Chaffee, who died tragically in the Apollo 1 fire on January 27, 1967. Roger's dream was to go to the Moon, a dream he never fulfilled. But Christina Koch, born in Grand Rapids herself, is currently, as I type , ON THE WAY TO THE MOON! I wanted to make sure people here were paying attention, so I wrote this article for Bridge Michigan to celebrate the fact that the first woman to fly to the Moon (and fly by the Moon) is, like Roger Chaffee, a Grand Rapids native. 

I'm so excited for this mission and so eager to see all the photos the crew sends back, especially as the Earth shrinks behind them and the Moon becomes ever-larger. What are you most looking forward to during this amazing lunar journey?

Ad lunam and Godspeed,

Deana