Epilogue

The Earth looms below. A breathtaking orb hanging in the vastness of space. Astronaut Charlie Duke can see the Arctic Circle, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America. He sees the three colors of Earth: the brown of the land, the crystal blue of the ocean, and the white of the snow in the clouds. “Boy, it’s just beautiful up here, looking out the window. It’s just really fantastic.”

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Boundaries - the lines we have created to organize land- but more often serve as catalyst for cultural division, vanish from sight. From this ‘out of this world’ perspective, we are not separated by nations or ideologies, but united as one species, inhabitants of a fragile blue planet suspended in black space. 

Spaceflight, with its infinite possibilities and borderless map, draws out the best within us. It ignites curiosity, fosters a spirit of collaboration and reminds us we are one. The journey into space, from the exploitation of immigrants during the Cold War era to the collaborative effort to reach the lunar surface, and from the harmonious assembly of nations aboard the International Space Station to the celebration of diversity within today’s NASA teams leading us back to the Moon with Artemis, continues to reflect the underlying essence of humanity.

Beginning with the curiosity and brilliance of a young deaf boy named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who first showed us how to launch from Earth, every advancement represents a significant achievement. And with each achievement, we stand poised to confront the next great challenge, and to journey further into the stars, as one.

PAO, Public Affairs Officer. The Public Affairs Officer was a MOCR position that played a tremendous part in the space program. The PAO was the voice of Mission Control to the public.

SC, Spacecraft.