NASA’s Artemis program is trying to land the first black person on the moon, under a new initiative led by the Biden-Harris administration that also seeks to land the first woman by 2024.
On Friday, the administration presented to Congress President Joe Biden’s priorities for discretionary spending in 2022.
The administration is requesting funding of $ 24.7 billion, an increase of 6.3% over the previous year, according to the NASA report.
“This $ 24.7 billion funding request demonstrates the Biden Administration’s commitment to NASA and its partners who have worked so hard over the past year in difficult circumstances and achieved unprecedented success,” said Steve Jurczyk, administrator. according to NASA, in a press release.
“The president’s discretionary request increases NASA’s ability to better understand the Earth and to further monitor and predict the impact of climate change. It also provides us with the resources we need to continue to advance the plan to explore America’s bipartisan lunar space to Mars, including the landing of the first woman and the first person of color on the moon under the Artemis program.
The Artemis program hopes to have one person of color and the first woman per month by 2024
Kate Rubins and Warren Hoburg in the picture
The astronauts in the program were first announced in December, but the first two crew members for Artemis III in 2024 have not yet been announced, CNN reports. The group of 18 represents veteran and new astronauts from various backgrounds.
These astronauts include: 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.
Although it is unclear who the astronauts will be, the prospect of having a potential colored astronaut on the moon shows that “these are historic moments in promoting equity for all mankind,” said Bhavya Lal, NASA’s chief of staff.
Although it is unclear who the astronauts will be, the prospect of having a potential astronaut on the moon shows that “these are historic moments in promoting equity for all mankind,” said Bhavya Lal, NASA’s chief of staff.
“Women and people of color are a significant portion of contributing to all facets of NASA’s workforce, and the last two selected classes of astronauts included the largest 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 Americans, the Asian islands in the Pacific, Hispanic and multiracial astronauts make up about a quarter of NASA’s active astronaut corps.
Lal, who came to the United States at the age of 18, said the announcement was personal and very significant 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 flight of the month scheduled for August 2023.