Even though I am generally interested in science and technology, I have found it impossible to get excited about Artemis II.
I'm not quite sure. Maybe it's because America isn't exactly my favourite country these days because ... well, you know why. Or maybe it's because, contrary to what I'd always assumed, these things are a lot more jingoistic than I thought. It's not "Mankind is going to the moon", it's "America is beating China to the moon".
Yup.
Related:
I never see any of the "I'm just excited about space progress and science!" crowd celebrating any of the Chinese space flight accomplishments.
They were silent when China landed a robot on the moon a few years ago. Silent when China landed a rover on Mars. Silent about the Chinese space station that's orbiting the planet. Silent about China's crewed mission to Mars that is on schedule to depart on 2033.
When they talk about space and science and exploration being "humanity's accomplishments," it's pretty clear who they're viewing as humanity. There's an era of cold war nationalism that feels yucky.
@mekkaokereke @davidnjoku Goddamnit, I didn't even realize China landed a robot there last year and even created a small biosphere there! I'm annoyed that didn't spray across my feed then. I'm not really a space junkie beyond sci-fi enjoyment, but would have loved moon joy back then too.
For others who didn't know, h/t to @alienghic who shared a link with biosphere info:
@mrundkvist @jonobie Ferl and Paul from the University of Florida grew arabidopsis in genuine lunar regolith in 2022.
https://spacebotany.uk/blog/scientists-have-finally-grown-plants-in-lunar-soil/
@jonobie @mekkaokereke @davidnjoku @alienghic
The cotton seed sprouting on the Moon was in 2019.
David Njoku
mekka okereke 
jamil
Jonobie
Todd Miller
Martin Rundkvist
Emma the Curious 🧐
