Love in Outer Space
What Artemis II Teaches Us About Being Human
The importance of love and vulnerability can bring immense joy and peace
—more than you could ever imagine, I promise.
As the world watches the Artemis II mission, we are not just witnessing a technological marvel; we are witnessing the human spirit at its most resilient. For the first time in over 50 years, four brave individuals are orbiting the Moon, breaking the record for the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth—252,756 miles, to be exact.
But what is making this mission truly resonate isn’t just the “how.” It’s the “who” and the “why.”
A Little Bit of Our Soul
NASA went viral this week for sharing the crew’s Wake-Up Playlist. From the energy of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan to the groove of Glass Animals, these songs remind us that even hundreds of thousands of miles away, the astronauts are tethered to the same culture and rhythms we enjoy on Earth.
Space might be a vacuum, but it’s now filled with a little bit of our soul. It’s a reminder that no matter how high we climb or how far we travel, we carry our humanity—our art, our quirks, and our memories—with us.
The Brightest Spot on the Moon
During a recent lunar flyby, the mission transcended science and became a story of deep, enduring devotion. The crew announced the naming of a prominent crater on the Moon: “Carroll.”
This designation honors Carroll Wiseman, the late wife of Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, who passed away from cancer in 2020. The “Carroll” crater is situated right at the boundary between the near and far sides of the Moon. It is a literal bright spot that can sometimes be observed from Earth.
The Power of the Group Hug
The moment, captured on the NASA broadcast, has since become one of the most shared clips of the mission—not because of a technical achievement, but because of a display of raw vulnerability.
It wasn’t actually Reid who spoke. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen took the mic because Reid was visibly overcome with emotion. Jeremy’s own voice cracked as he described the crater and carefully spelled out her name: C-A-R-R-O-L-L.
Inside the Integrity capsule, we saw a scene rarely caught in the high-stakes, “stiff upper lip” world of spaceflight. The other three astronauts—Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—didn’t stay in their seats. They drifted toward Reid, circling him in a tight group hug.
Back on Earth, Mission Control fell silent for nearly 45 seconds. Scientists and flight controllers later admitted there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Why This Matters for Us
In that one embrace, 252,756 miles away, we saw the ultimate definition of teamwork. It wasn’t about navigating the craft or checking the fuel levels; it was about holding space for a teammate’s grief.
When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable—whether at the kitchen table or in a boardroom—we give others permission to do the same. That is where true connection is forged. That is how a group of individuals becomes a team that can reach the Moon.
As the crew prepares for their splashdown on April 10, they leave behind more than just footprints in our imagination. They’ve left a permanent mark of love on the lunar surface and a lesson for all of us down here:
Love wins on Earth. Love wins in space. And it never truly dies.