Photo by NASA | Bill Ingalls
Jeff Hurvitz: NASA and democracy
When the crew of Artemis II journeyed around the moon this month, they continued a path that allowed them and others before them to see the Earth in a special way. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen ultimately made it to the dark side of the moon, but they also represented a light that was to shine on our very republic.
It was announced that over 100 former astronauts have journeyed into the political spectrum, and have formed an organization that will seek a middle ground in what has become a highly polarized country. The outfit is known as Astronauts For America, and seeks to remedy what they see as a clear erosion of principles established by our founding fathers.
The mission statement says: “Astronauts For America is a nonpartisan organization of former astronauts who have sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to science, evidence-based decision-making, public service and the rule of law.” They go on to state their support of leaders who show commitments to these ideals, explaining how their very flights are based on science and how avoidance of facts can cause peril for democracy as well.
It is easy to see how the need for this middle ground is sorely needed in our country. If one can view a particular news story on Fox News, then MSnow, it’s as if we live in two separate worlds. The polarization is stark. Throw in podcasts and social media and one is often dumbfounded as to what is real.
With a growing class of independent voters, many of whom have abandoned Democrat and Republican parties, there has become an ever-expanded need for a middle ground which tunes out the extremes in both parties.
On their website, Astronauts For America posts the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. They say their mission is “patriotic, not partisan.” In perhaps a veiled reference to the present Trump administration, the organization says they will take officials to task when facts or the law are compromised.
As this country nears our 250th year of existence and are immersed in a technological world where assertions — whether true or false — are presented with breakneck speed, it is a breath of fresh air to know that adults are about to keep score. It is being done by responsible people who have gained credibility in a very tenuous existence in space.
While Artemis II may have ended its mission, the journey to a better republic by its former astronauts has only just begun.
Jeff Hurvitz (jrhurvitz@aol.com) is a freelance writer and native Philadelphian.
NASA astronauts have reportedly been to the moon six times, the last of which was Apollo 17 on Dec. 19, 1972. This last NASA mission in 2026 accomplished what, exactly? What did they accomplish, precisely?
“Many of the experts who built and operated those [Apollo] systems are no longer in the field, resulting in the loss of “a lot of that knowledge,” according to John Thornton, CEO of Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology.” – People, 4/1/2026 by Emily Blackwood
“Cloud seeding’ is a real practice—in fact, it’s been around for decades. It’s used today to boost precipitation in at least eight states across the western U.S. and dozens of countries around the world.” – Scientific America, 3/16/2021 by Chelsea Harvey
“Vincent Schaefer, a researcher with General Electric, is often credited with the first cloud seeding experiments in the 1940s. Much of Schaefer’s work during and after World War II…” – Same Scientific America article
Somehow we retained cloud seeding tech, but we lost the tech from an entire space program from 50 years ago and currently do not know how to actually land people on the moon…
“Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.” – often misattributed to various people, such as Machiavelli, but likely a quote from a conspirator trying to get curious people to stop paying too much attention.
Conclusion? There must be a lot of money and utility in cloud seeding, as that tech is evidently still around and being used on a daily basis…
Continue to have gratitude for ice cream and electricity, be a good neighbor, and exercise free thinking. Maybe they’ll land on the moon one day in the future. They just circled it a couple times. Anything is possible.
The objectives and goals of the mission are published and well known. It’s in the Wikipedia page for Heaven’s sake?
Cool. What are they? The objectives and goals are “published” and “well know”…??? What? You have beclowned yourself. That’s like someone asking a question and now you’ve responded: “I know but I can’t tell you… and you don’t know because you are stupid.”
Homo-says-what? Bro? Gal? However you identify… GTFO.
[Trump Voice] AB… what a name. Better than Dung-something-or-other. We’ve never had a name like AB… the best name… unbelievable
(This comment was intended to be the most disrespectful comment, possibly ever written, so it violates the “Respectful” request as much as humanly possible. Just for the record. Why? Because the objectives and goals of the Artemis Eleven mission are published. And, well known.)