Why psychologists say Artemis II captivated people around the world

Artemis II was more than just a moonshot.

It was a chance to board the Orion spacecraft with four astronauts who loved their work, worked together as a team, and successfully orbited the moon.

Their joy was contagious. Their accomplishments were awe-inspiring. And humanity continues to “bask in reflected glory,” or “BIRGing” as psychologists call it. This is what happens after a sports team wins.

“Even though I had nothing to do with the astronauts on the lunar mission, I’m proud of humans and what they can do,” said Eden King, a psychology professor at Rice University. “And I can benefit from that, too.”

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Artemis II’s mission lasted nine days and one hour and 32 minutes. The novelty of the first human flight around the moon since 1972 made headlines in a fragmented 24/7 news cycle.

NASA’s live video then allowed people to connect with the crew, including NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Grover was the first black person to fly around the moon. Koch was the first woman and Hansen the first Canadian.

People saw themselves in this crew. They then watched live video as the astronauts worked inside the capsule. They listened as the crew excitedly described seeing the Earth and the Moon.

And many of the astronauts’ comments focused on the unity and beauty of humanity.

“You look great. You look beautiful,” Glover told People on Earth in an interview with ABC News. “And from here, you look the same. Homo sapiens is all of us, no matter where we come from or what we look like. We’re all the same people.”

The emotional moment came after the crew suggested naming the crater after Mr Wiseman’s late wife Carol, who died of cancer in 2020. Artemis II astronauts could be seen wiping away tears and hugging each other in groups.

King-at-Rice said that people subconsciously compare themselves to others, especially those who look and act like them. The astronauts’ openness to sharing their perspectives made a difference in this mission.

King said of the Artemis 2 astronauts, “As we see and get to know these people through public affairs, we are truly inspired by how similar they are to us.” “We connect what they are doing with what we might be able to do.”

Humans were not the first to enter space. The International Space Station has been sheltering people without interruption for 25 years, and crew members frequently share photos and participate in live videos.

But Dr. King said the station would outlive human consciousness no longer. It has been taken for granted. Artemis II’s mission was new, but short enough to keep us focused today.

photograph: NASA’s Artemis II mission captured stunning photos of Earth, the moon, and the Orion spacecraft

King also believes people were looking for good news. Joy and excitement were felt throughout NASA.

Josh Hicks, a professor of psychology and brain sciences at Texas A&M University, believes people are craving this kind of shared experience. Artemis II gave them a sense of connection and trust.

“We are in a state of turmoil as a country,” Hicks said. “We’re divided. People are stressed. People are distrustful of others. Everybody, on either side of the political spectrum, kind of hates the way the world is right now. It’s really divisive.”

Hicks studied how people experience a state of awe, which he described as an emotion felt in the presence of something larger than oneself. Whether it’s standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon or listening to an inspiring speech.

He believes that watching the launch of Artemis II, seeing photos of the moon, and welcoming the astronauts home inspired people with awe, which sparked hope and curiosity about the future. It also reaffirmed their sense of connection.

“Most people want peace. Most people want to trust their neighbors,” Hicks said. “Most people want things to be okay again, and I think when you look at these stories, it’s a reminder of human goodness.”

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People also love a good mystery, Hicks said. And the question of what astronauts would see, experience, and learn was a surprise and an opportunity to think about new possibilities.

For King, Artemis II emphasized a psychological theory called shared identity or superordinate identity. She said giving people a common goal emphasizes their similarities and reduces conflicts.

Perhaps the Artemis II mission reminded her of the “common humanity within all of us,” she said.

“We look at these great people and think, ‘Wow, we can be great, too,'” Dr. King said.