NASA’s Artemis program seeks to land its first person of color on the moon, under a new initiative led by the Biden-Harris administration that also seeks to land the first woman in 2024.
On Friday, the administration presented to Congress President Joe Biden’s priorities for 2022 discretionary spending.
The administration is asking for $ 24.7 million in funding, 6.3% more than the previous year, according to the NASA report.
“This $ 24.7 billion funding application demonstrates the Biden Administration’s commitment to NASA and its partners who have worked so hard over the past year in difficult circumstances and have achieved unprecedented success,” he said. NASA Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk in a press release.
“The president’s discretionary request increases NASA’s ability to better understand the Earth and monitor and predict the impacts of climate change. It also provides us with the resources needed to continue advancing America’s bipartisan lunar space exploration plan. to Mars, including the landing of the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program ”.
The Artemis program hopes to have a person of color and the first woman on the moon in 2024
The picture shows Kate Rubins and Warren Hoburg
The show’s astronauts were first announced in December, but the first two members of the Artemis III crew in 2024 have not yet been announced, CNN reports. The group of 18 represent veteran and new astronauts from diverse backgrounds.
These astronauts are: Joseph Acaba, Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Victor Glover Jr., Warren ‘Woody’ Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Christina Koch, Kjell Lindgren, Nicole Mann, Anne McClain, Jessica Meir, Jasmin Moghbeli, Kate Rubins , Frank Rubio, Scott Tingle, Jessica Watkins and Stephanie Wilson.
While it’s unclear who the astronauts will be, the prospect of having a potential astronaut of color on the moon shows that “these are historic times to advance equity for all of humanity,” said Bhavya Lal, chief of staff in functions of NASA.
While it’s unclear who the astronauts will be, the prospect of having a potential colored astronaut on the moon shows that “these are historic times to advance equity for all of humanity,” said Bhavya Lal, chief of staff in functions of NASA
“Women and people of color represent a significant part of all facets of NASA’s workforce, and the last two classes of selected astronauts have included the highest percentage of women in history,” Lal added.
“Fifty percent of the 2013 national class was female and 45 percent of the 2017 class. And today, African American, Asian Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and multiracial astronauts make up about a quarter of the bodies of active NASA astronauts.
Lal, who came to the United States at age 18, said the announcement was personal and very meaningful to her.
“If you can see it, you can believe it,” Lal said. “Much of what NASA does is inspire the next generation, but to be successful in that inspiration, we must continue to be leaders in diversity and equity.”
An unmanned Artemis I flight is scheduled for November, with an Artemis II manned overflight of the Moon scheduled for August 2023.