Young people in the 1960s were enamored with space travel. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was organized as a government agency in 1958. John F. Kennedy, US president from 1961-63, set a national goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to Earth.
In the 1960s NASA produced many films dealing with the trajectory of our nation’s space program. The films piqued the imaginations of our young students. Several times teachers in the school where I taught science wheeled a television set into our classroom to observe events as they occurred: Alan B. Shepard’s sub-orbital flight (5/5/61) which proved man’s ability to withstand elevated g-forces, and John H. Glenn’s first orbital flight (2/20/62) demonstrating human ability to survive in the outer space gravity-free environment. We were in a race with the former Soviet Union to highlight our nation’s superiority in science. Many US students have maintained their interest in space since our astronauts reached the Moon during the Apollo moon explorations from 1969-1972.
Students and adults alive at the time of the initial Moon visits, however, may have wondered why our country has not returned to the moon for over fifty years. Have our national priorities changed over the last half-century? Our populace has demanded more in terms of transportation, navigation, weather forecasting, entertainment, national security, and many others. Space age technology has strengthened our knowledge of these topics for the past half century.
In addition to our gains in science and technology, there is another dimension to our knowledge of outer space. Sadly, this dimension is not recognized by a majority of today’s scientists. We propose there is a theological dimension. This dimension is often mocked by scientists, who believe science and faith (theology) are unrelated categories of knowledge.
The theological dimension is a vital pillar supporting our Science/Faith blog. For reference, we link an early blog: https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2010/04/theologys-scientific-support.html There are many ways our blog has highlighted the relationship of science and faith. We link: https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/12/overview-effect.html When our astronauts journey to outer space and gaze back upon Planet Earth, many are impacted by the overview effect—a feeling of intense awe and wonder when they experience a vision of Earth from a completely different physical perspective. On December 24, 1968 Astronauts Anders, Lovell, and Borman were 234,000 miles from Earth, farther from our planet than any human had ever travelled. These three astronauts linked their scientific activities with a powerful faith-strengthening worship experience as they viewed Planet Earth from a great distance. While in orbit around our Moon the Apollo 8 astronauts each read a few verses from Genesis 1:1-10. I was transfixed as I listened to the broadcast of the event in real time!
Our world shows evidence of divine design wherever we look. Our society wrestles with differences in worldview as well as differences in national policy. Our political leaders believe in the benefits of space exploration. But we must obey laws of motion, laws governing energy production, and adhere to many fundamental physical constants. Who authored those laws and constants? Did they appear randomly, or by accident? Do we believe in the incredible fine-tuned features of our universe? Nations of the world must deal with an orderly, intelligently designed universe in their flights to outer space as well as in all their national endeavors.
US space scientists are currently embarked on the Artemis Program. Artemis I was an uncrewed flight to the Moon and back. Artemis II supports a crewed Moon mission without landing on the lunar surface. Artemis III astronauts will land on the Moon’s south polar region before returning to Earth. Artemis IV crew members will install a space station called Lunar Gateway which supports both crewed and robotic lunar exploration, but not before 2028.
The current blog does not do justice to the desirability and complexity of our country’s space program. The Artemis program among many others, is an international symbol of human cooperation. Major players in the international drama are the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan (Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Canada (Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA).
Let us prayerfully commit our national and international space scientists to our Creator for wisdom in their mission of discovery.
