“Ambassadors for Humanity.” I loved this description of the Artemis II astronauts. While I am not a space geek, this mission captured my mind and heart as the crew ventured farther into space than anyone in history and they shared their rich descriptions about our common home, Earth. They had a unique perspective that is impossible to duplicate from where we stand on this planet.

The astronauts were so articulate and insightful about the emotional experience of seeing Earth from deep space. Christina Koch, referred to Earth as “a ‘lifeboat’ in the darkness hanging undisturbingly in the universe, a tiny and fragile entity surrounded by the ‘blackness’ of space.” She emphasized that it wasn’t just the planet itself that struck her, but the vast “blackness around it” that highlighted our world’s isolation and need for care.

She also said, “Planet Earth—you are a crew,” suggesting that everyone on the planet is “inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked.” She compared the fact that the astronauts depended on each other, as humanity, we depend on each other in our shared existence in the universe.

The space travelers urged unity and gratitude for the home planet, emphasizing that the experience deepened their perception of how special it is to be a human on Earth. Their collective message focused on the planet’s fragility and the inescapable bond shared by all humanity. The crew expressed that the “human experience” was the most extraordinary part of the mission. They urged global unity, with astronaut Jeremy Hansen, noting that while the science was incredible, the sight of a “tiny Earth” reinforced the value of supporting and loving one another.

As they circled behind the moon, contact was lost for 40 minutes. When the signal finally flickered back into life the voice of Christina Koch crackled back to mission control. “We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers, we will do radio astronomy, we will found companies. We will bolster industry, we will inspire… But ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”

Those who have traveled into space describe a profound appreciation of the uniqueness of Earth and that all humans share the planet together. The experience of seeing our planet surrounded by the blackness of space truly emphasized how alike we are, how the same things keep every single person on planet Earth alive.

Austin Glover, referred to Earth as a “spaceship” created for humanity, urging people to love God and their neighbors. While this was not a religious mission and little else was said about God, it sure sounded like they were describing what God created, who God is and what God does! I am grateful to these brave souls who reminded me what a gift it is just to be human on the planet Earth.