In one week, we see the amazing Artemis 2 launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida, along with the rescue of 2 downed US aircrew behind enemy lines in Iran.
The former, all four chosen as a test crew for a mission to the far side of the moon, in a space vehicle no bigger than a mini van. It makes my days gone by, of being a member of a special forces patrol in the jungle on a 10 day hard routine mission, seem like a picnic.
I was glued to the TV for the take off, and absolutely astonished at the volatility of the rocket’s thrust to get it off the ground and away.
Each crew member, the bravest of the brave, given their knowledge and experience combined as a team, knowing what could go wrong at each point of the mission.
I wish them well, having followed them so far, knowing that their most dangerous point left, will be the re-entry back into the Earth’s atmosphere.
The latter of the two stories, was the ongoing mission of the downed aircrew rescue teams, going in during daylight hours to retrieve the first crewman, then continuing for a further two days until the second too was retrieved from enemy territory.
War is hell, and only comes about when diplomacy fails, or there is a motive of greed with power in the mix. I’m a firm believer in this day and age that humanity can do much better.
Given these two stories from the same week, I can only hope that leaders of countries around the globe, can learn from those who are the real leaders who have led to the success of both stories.
Fortune favours the brave, but so does total professionalism and integrity.
Bob Shepherd 