(RNS) \u2014 On a humid evening in late March, Victor Glover huddled with his fellow Artemis II astronauts to have what the spacefarers called their \u201cultimate dinner.\u201d It was their last full meal before embarking on their historic journey around the Moon \u2014 the first human-crewed visit to Earth\u2019s silver satellite since 1972.<\/p>\n
After Glover finished his spread of lamb chops, spinach and sweet potatoes, the cook returned with something else: Communion elements. The cook, a Christian himself, then sat next to Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen as the men paused to pray before observing the Christian sacrament together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI prayed and I pleaded that God accepts that I do this for the mission,\u201d Glover, who worships with Churches of Christ congregations in Texas, told Religion News Service in a recent video interview.<\/p>\n
It was a quiet moment of religious ritual shortly before a rocket launch so explosively loud that, even a mile away, the boom rivaled the sound of standing near a screaming jet engine. The Space Launch System that carried the Orion spacecraft then catapulted Glover, the pilot for the mission, and his fellow Artemis II crew members into space, where they soared around the Moon and back in a gaping 252,756 mile arc that took them farther away from the Earth than any human beings in history.<\/p>\n
But as millions back home marveled at the nine-day mission\u2019s breathtaking photographs and technical accomplishments, Glover said the journey was also steeped in spiritual significance, from blastoff to splashdown.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RNS-Artemis-Moon-Earthset1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. (Photo courtesy of NASA) TOP PHOTO: NASA astronaut and Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover peers out the window of the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. (Photo courtesy of NASA)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAt the end of it, when we were just responding totally instinctually, we talked a lot about God,\u201d he said, referring to the crew. \u201cWe talked a lot about creation and the beauty of the universe and the cosmos.\u201d<\/p>\n Glover, 50, said just talking about the mission \u2014 even among the Artemis II crew members in their brief reunions between press junkets \u2014 has been a challenge. Multiple times in his interview with RNS, Glover admitted to struggling to articulate his thoughts on aspects of the flight, which included witnessing a spectacular solar eclipse rarely seen from space that spurred mission commander Reid Wiseman to quip to Glover, \u201cI don\u2019t think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we are looking at right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of it, when we were just responding totally instinctually, we talked a lot about God … We talked a lot about creation and the beauty of the universe and the cosmos.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Victor Glover<\/cite><\/div>\n While he feels his faith has \u201cdefinitely grown\u201d through the journey, Glover said the inability to find the right words is something he has come to embrace as a kind of spiritual posture.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have to be quick to put words on it and label the moments in the mission,\u201d he said, later adding: \u201cI\u2019m actually getting comfortable not having to answer things. You have questions? Let\u2019s talk about the question.\u201d<\/p>\n