Sharife Gacel

Launch Details Target launch: April 1, 2026 at 6:24 p.m. EDT 2-hour launch window Backup opportunities through April 6 Mission Overview First crewed Artemis mission Crew: 4 astronauts (NASA + Canadian Space Agency) Duration: ~10 days Mission: Fly around the Moon and return Systems Being Tested Orion spacecraft with humans onboard Life support systems and deep space capabilities Prepares for future Moon missions

Sometimes progress is slow. Nothing exemplifies this more than the crawler-transporter that is used to transport rockets from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to launchpads out at Kennedy Space Center. It’s not surprising that the crawler makes for an incredible mental health metaphor as it encompasses the principles of stability, balance, and safety. We may not always see the progress in the moment, but with each steady step, we are getting closer to where we are meant to be.

“Every mission to the stars begins long before the launch. It begins the moment someone dares to look up.” “Where Wonder Begins”  Part of the Human in Human Spaceflight  series 11 x 14 in Pen and ink on mixed media paper Following an event at the Orlando Science Center and inspired by the Space for Art Exhibit, I created this piece above.  The exhibit was especially curated and presented by the Space for Art Foundation and Space for a Better World. The exhibit beautifully blends space and...