The launch of Artemis II and, 10 days later, the mission’s return from the other side of the moon, the farthest any four human beings have ever ventured away from the earth, has kept the world enraptured.
Excited, though poorly informed, I tuned our newsroom television to NASA’s live broadcast last week three hours too early — the astronauts were dutifully pecking away at tablets and seemed entirely unperterbed by the suspense — and it’s been a thrill to keep up with the crew’s journey since.
I’ve learned that their WiFi works better than my home connection here on planet Earth; that the Orion capsule’s toilet, also called the Universal Waste Management System, requires an insulated bathroom and special ear protection because it’s so loud; and that sometimes, it takes distancing yourself from the rest of humanity to see what makes existence so remarkable.
In the poignant words of pilot Victor Glover, “In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist [in] together.”
If heading into the weekend, you’re still eager, like me, to marvel in humankind’s achievement and the splendor of the universe, consider starting on Friday by watching the crew of the Artemis II splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
NASA expects the water landing to happen around 8:07 p.m. EST (our time), and the agency will be streaming their return on the NASA YouTube channel and NBC News NOW.
If space and science aren’t quiet your speed or you’re simply looking for something more social, visit Kimball Jenkins on Saturday for the Concord Arts Market’s HeARTwork series. This seasonal event is designed to highlight the artisans and artists behind the work, showcasing “not only what they create, but the care, intention, and creative spirit that shape it.”
The market is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Carriage House of the Kimball Jenkins Estate at 266 North Main St. in Concord.
From there, consider stopping by Wine on Main downtown for a free wine tasting from 1 to 4 p.m. or catching the Safe Haven Ballet’s performance of Don Quixote at 4:30 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts.
The performance’s “vibrant Spanish flair” promises to transport audience members with “passion, humor and breathtaking choreography” — tickets can be purchased at www.ccanh.com.
Whether your plans bring you to the Iberian Peninsula, the West Coast or outer space, or if they keep you firmly grounded at home as you find time to rest and recoup, we hope you have a wonderful weekend.
