With NASA’s Artemis II mission reigniting excitement about human spaceflight and the return to the moon, it’s the perfect time to revisit the outsized role Ohio has played in America’s journey beyond Earth.
That legacy is the focus of The Columbus Dispatch’s yearlong USA 250 project spotlighting Ohio astronauts, a series celebrating the Buckeye State’s remarkable place in space history ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
From Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon to Jim Lovell’s Apollo 13 heroics and Judith Resnik’s legacy aboard Challenger, Ohio has long stood at the center of America’s space story.
The Dispatch launched the project in March with a broader look at Ohio’s astronaut legacy, noting the state’s 25 astronauts and unique place in space exploration history.
The project will continue throughout the year as America celebrates its 250th birthday, using Ohio’s astronaut history as a lens into innovation, courage and exploration.
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era and serves as a major test flight ahead of future moon landings. The mission launched April 1 and is expected to last about 10 days, sending four astronauts on a lunar flyby before returning to Earth.
The four-person crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christian Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
The mission does not land on the moon, but it is designed to test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft before NASA’s future Artemis missions aim to return astronauts to the lunar surface.
As Ohioans await Artemis II’s return, The Dispatch’s yearlong USA 250 project may be a chance to catch up on some of the Ohio astronauts who helped shape America’s journey into space.
See the profiles we’ve published so far below; more will be added as the year continues:
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Artemis II has you dreaming of space? Meet Ohio’s astronauts
Reporting by Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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