MELBOURNE, FL — As people around the world paused to observe Easter on April 5, the Artemis II astronauts offered a message of love to the world and took a moment to honor their crewmate, a first-time flier in space — all after hearing from a NASA Apollo astronaut.
Shortly after waking up on Sunday, the Artemis II astronauts, who are currently on their way to fly around the moon, heard the voice of someone other than Mission Control: Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke.
"Hello, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. This is Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke. John Young and I landed on the moon in 1972 in a lunar module we named Orion," said Duke. "I'm glad to see a different kind of Orion helping return humans to the moon as America charts the course to the lunar surface."
Duke flew to the moon in April 1972 during the Apollo 16 mission alongside John Young and Ken Mattingly. While in space, Duke left something special behind.
"Below you on the moon is a photo of my family. I pray it reminds you that we and America and all of the world are cheering you on," said Duke. "Thanks to you and the whole team on the ground for building on our Apollo legacy with Artemis. Godspeed and safe travels home.”
