Update: I got a polite rejection letter, which I’m grateful for. It seemed my website spiked some interest, but I suppose I don’t have millions of followers. So, I may not get to go in person, but I will definitely be attending virtually. This will be amazing!
I applied for a NASA Social Media Credential so that I can attend the Artemis II launch this coming April. Four astronauts will fly around the Moon to test NASA’s “foundational human deep space exploration capabilities.” This flight is another step toward crewed missions to the lunar surface — it has been 52 years since humans have been to the moon — and helping the agency prepare for future astronaut missions to Mars.
Below, I share some highlights from my application, and some opportunities for you to participate, too.
How I plan to promote the Artemis II launch
First, I want to share my crazy idea. Yes, it is a promotional stunt, but NASA wants to spread its inspirational message, and I think this is the hook that the media will bite.
So, if you didn’t know, my claim to fame is that I rode a bicycle around the world seeking the meaning of life and happiness. (4 years, 41,444 Kilometers, 59 Countries, 6 Continents, and 4 moments of enlightenment.) Since then, people often ask, “What are you going to do next? Ride around the moon?” I’m not kidding. People ask that. So, what if we take a very tiny piece of my bicycle and put it on the Artemis, or make a necklace for an astronaut, so that my bicycle will have literally circumnavigated two planetary bodies!
I’m really racking up the NASA frequent flyer miles. My name has already flown around the moon on the Artemis I. And currently, my name is aboard the Mars Perseverance Rover, etched into a silicon chip, helping (I imagine) the search for extraterrestrial life.
If a tiny bit of my bicycle can’t go, my name is already aboard the ship. And you can add yours, too. Getting your boarding pass (like mine above) and…
Send your name around the Moon!
And you can get a NASA passport so you can attend all the events virtually.
Why I want to participate
Usually, I put the “why” first, but in this case, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss my idea of having my bicycle circumnavigate the moon. Anyways, my reasons why…
I think the human spirit has a need to aspire to be more, and what could be more inspirational than going to the Moon and back? As we run out of room and resources on this planet, we need hope more than ever. A mission like this will not only expand the last frontier, it will expand what it means to be human. Practically speaking, this endeavor will help unite the countries and cultures of the world. And, it will require the creation of technologies that haven’t yet existed, and that can be used to benefit humanity. These are all values and goals that I want to help make happen!
What do you plan to do with your experience after this event?
Building on my experience as a Cultural Ambassador. I would use the spotlight to bring my lessons to every school across the globe, and the children would be able to stand on my shoulders and achieve even greater things. I have long said, “If I can bicycle around the world, imagine what you could do.” And, I hope to say, “If I can fly to the Moon and back, you can fly to the stars and keep on going.” Together with NASA, I hope to not only launch humanity into space but into the future of our species, where we cooperate as a whole to achieve things never before imagined.
And I hope to write more articles like this: “Visit Mars from your backyard — Yes! Really.”
https://dreamaplay.com/visit-mars-from-your-backyard/
Summary
I’m excited just thinking about all the opportunities for both myself and others. Wish me luck!
