Many people around the world have followed Nasa’s Artemis II mission that sent four astronauts sweeping around the far side of the Moon and then landed them safely back on Earth. The images of the astronauts have excited a whole new generation about the possibilities of space travel. There are plans for one crewed lunar landing each year, beginning in 2028, with a view to establishing a base on the Moon. There are even ambitious thoughts about going to Mars which presently takes 6-9 months each way.

The crew of Artemis II took many photos including one showing the dry inhospitable surface of the moon in the foreground and the beautiful well-watered Earth in the background. Our little planet is unique in the known universe. It abounds with water and a vast array of life. The Moon is not naturally hospitable to human beings; it is a vacuum with extreme temperature fluctuations between minus 248C and plus 123C. There is high radiation, toxic dust and no breathable air. Lunar dust is sharp and powdery posing hazards to human lungs and to equipment. No liquid water exists on the surface. Mars is even more inhospitable to human beings.

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover spoke about seeing the “beauty of creation” and “all the amazing things that were done for us.” Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to orbit the Moon in 1968. On Christmas Eve 1968 the crew of Apollo 8 – Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman – took it in turn to read the first 10 verses of the Book of Genesis from their space capsule. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

In 1962 John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth. In 1998, at the age of 77, he returned to space. Almost immediately, he was overwhelmed with the presence of God and said, “Looking at the Earth from this vantage point, looking at this kind of Creation, and not to believe in God, to me, is impossible. To see the Earth like this only strengthens my beliefs.” John died on 8 December 2016 at the age of 95 and now he sees his Creator and his Saviour, Jesus, face to face.