NASA is leading the way to the Moon, but the military won’t be far behind

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida—The U.S. military has a longstanding relationship with NASA's human spaceflight endeavors. Historically, the majority of the initial astronauts were military pilots, and notably, two of the four crew members slated to embark on NASA's Artemis II mission are Navy test pilots. Set to launch this Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center, Artemis II marks the first crewed journey to the Moon's vicinity since 1972. Commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will command the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft on this groundbreaking mission. They are joined by NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, forming a formidable four-person crew. While the launch will take place from NASA's facilities on Florida’s Space Coast, the Space Force will play a critical role in the operation. A specialized crew from the Space Force will monitor the SLS rocket as it ascends over the Atlantic Ocean, ensuring public safety during the launch. They hold the responsibility of transmitting a destruct signal should the rocket deviate from its intended path. Fortunately for the astronauts aboard, the Orion capsule is equipped with an abort rocket designed to safely detach from a failing launch vehicle in emergencies. Additionally, an Air Force rescue team is prepared to quickly intervene and recover the Artemis II crew in the event of an in-flight abort. If the mission goes according to plan, the Navy will oversee the recovery operation of the Orion spacecraft and its four astronauts at the conclusion of their nine-day lunar journey. This collaboration with the military is a routine aspect of NASA's operations; the Space Force manages public safety for every launch from the Space Coast, whether military or civilian. Historically, the Air Force has also provided rescue support for NASA’s human spaceflight missions, and the Navy famously retrieved Apollo astronauts upon their return from the Moon over fifty years ago.