Thread by @AndyKimNJ

Something amazing occurred in Florida last night, but not what’s leading the news. While political leaders seek to divide us, #Artemis launch pulls us together in new era of discovery. Someone asked me if returning to moon can still inspire. Here’s what I wish I said back. THREAD

I can understand their skepticism. In some ways we have become a generation accustomed to seeing it all. The bombardment of Hollywood CGI dulled our capacity to be shocked. And current societal divisions leave us often in a state of fatigue and malaise. 2/14

One’s capacity to be inspired occurs precisely at the intersection of witnessing genuine groundbreaking feats and the capacity of one’s own conception of what is possible to expand. On one end I can assure you today’s achievement marks one of the greatest feats in history. 3/14

To have what amounts to a 32-story skyscraper that weighs nearly 6 million pounds lift off the ground at a speed of 22,600 mph and aimed to precisely enter the moon’s orbit 240,000 miles away and use that gravity to slingshot a capsule beyond the previous reaches of humanity.4/14

So as we see this rocket defy gravity with thrust never before achieved, the question of our level of inspiration has less to do with the magnificence of the feat and more to do with us and what mindset we bring to the equation. What is our conception of possibility? 5/14

As we head back to the moon for the first time in 50 yrs, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that Apollo and Artemis both occurred in eras of great turmoil and instability in our nation and around the globe. These moments though are different and the missions divergent. 6/14

22,475 days since Alan Shepard first left our atmosphere, we return to the moon, but not as part of a space race that doubles as a defining proxy battle between superpowers. Our work in space need not be reactive to what’s happening on the ground. 7/14

But what is similar to Apollo era is a sense of deep division throughout our society and world. The pollution of politics invades nearly every facet of life. Sometimes it feels like we are becoming a nation addicted to anger, and we wonder if anything can snap us out of this.8/14

So what is it that is so powerful about this accomplishment today? Over my 4 yrs in Congress, I’ve encountered nearly every facet of our nation’s work. One thing stands out about Artemis, the Webb Telescope, and our space program - a perspective that gives rise to humility. 9/14

Our greatest accomplishments in space ironically also teach us about our own fragility. We build massive rockets and telescopes that then show us how small we really are. But the perspective gives us humility. That we are a part of something bigger than all of us. 10/14

This first photograph of the Earthrise over the moon helped fuel the modern environmental conservation movement that has given rise a global call to tackle the dangers of climate change. It showed Earth not as a stage for superpowers, but as vulnerable and improbable. 11/14

But to say all this does not mean our efforts are symbolic or performative. Far from it. The science we seek is real and the impact of this exploration is limitless. Real advancements like enabling GPS, LEDs, CAT scans, camera phones, and even advancements in baby formula.12/14

But we cannot ignore the profound ripples that this science has across our broader society. We feel that today as we looked towards launchpad 39B. I felt it as I watched the big eyes of my boys fill with possibility as they watched video of the rocket launch.13/14

I hope we take a moment today to reflect on this extraordinary achievement. Thanks to the thousands of Americans at @nasa and partners that made this launch possible and who will guide our nation through this new era. You have inspired millions. Now let the discovery begin. END