ON MOONSHOTS AND MINNEAPOLIS.

The article focuses on the complex social and political context surrounding NASA's Artemis II mission, which aims to return humans to the vicinity of the moon for the first time in over 50 years. It highlights the contrast between the inspirational potential of space exploration and ongoing domestic unrest, including protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis. The piece draws parallels to the 1960s, when the Apollo moon landings occurred amid civil rights protests and criticism that government resources were misallocated. Historian Neil Maher notes that space exploration can both unite people and reflect societal divisions. The author expresses hope for renewed collective inspiration from Artemis II while finding current unity in local community resilience. [Extracted from the article]