Victor Glover, astronaut of 'Artemis 2': "The first person to go to Mars is already going to school"

Victor Glover (California, 46 years old) is the brand new pilot of the

mission , which will travel to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

He is also the first black man to go to the satellite.

Next to him, in the Orion space capsule, will sit the astronaut, mathematician and physicist Christina Koch, the first woman ever enrolled in such a mission.

And they are accompanied by Canadian Jeremy Hansen, the first person from outside the United States to fly to the satellite, and, as mission commander, Reid Wiseman, who until a few months ago was the head of NASA's astronaut corps.

It's a mission to go down in history and Glover knows how much it means to his country, to the black community and to the rest of the world as well.

So far, only 24 white men have traveled to our satellite.

"In the United States we are still divided and I hope that this mission can be an example of peace and cooperation between countries, but also between groups within my country," he explained, in an interview conducted Tuesday with EL PAÍS by videoconference.

More information

A black man and woman will travel to the Moon for the first time in history

Glover is the son of a local police officer and an accountant.

He was the first in the family to go to college, where he studied engineering and science.

He found his calling as a pilot in the United States Navy, where he fought in the 2003 Iraq War and rose through the ranks to become a test pilot;

the prelude to being an astronaut.

Finally, he was selected in 2013, and in 2020 he became the first African-American to spend a long stay on the International Space Station, the only inhabited human base outside of Earth.

The astronaut recalls that in 1969 there was a large demonstration by the black community at the Kennedy Space Center, from where the mission that would take the first man to the Moon was launched.

“Just today marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King.

The reverend who replaced him at the head of the coalition led the protests at the space center.

But before takeoff, that same group ended up praying for the astronauts.

Suddenly there was a change, they became fond of them and supported them.

It's a lesson in how we should think about this new mission,” says Glover.

“Our society needs all the moments of reconciliation that we can give it”, he emphasizes.

At that time there was criticism that NASA spent billions of dollars to send humans to the Moon while the black community was poor and marginalized, an argument that continues today.

There are many people who wonder what is the point of going to the Moon when there are so many problems on Earth.

Again, Glover's reasoning is perfectly threaded: “I don't think it's appropriate to respond to those criticisms because it's true, we have a lot of problems.

And many people are sick of hearing about the benefits of going to the moon.

On my way to work I sometimes listen to

, a poem by Gil Scott-Heron.

He talks about problems that are important to listen to, like he can't pay the rent and his sister doesn't have doctors [while the white boy reaches the Moon].

He reminds me that sometimes it's important to listen,” he explains.

However, Glover continues: “I can also put the problem in context.

NASA's budget is about $30 billion.

And that investment generates economic, academic activity, with companies and scientists from the United States and other countries that can reach hundreds of billions.

So sometimes it's better to shut up and listen to people's complaints, but I'm also aware of the huge economic return from space exploration.

This mission consumes a lot of money, but you have to put it in context.

For example, every year Americans spend about $4 billion on chewing gum.

Health is expensive and everyone should have access to it.

NASA cannot solve all the problems of our societies,

Glover will also be the first human to take command of the Orion capsule, the spacecraft designed to take astronauts to the Moon, Mars and beyond, during

, which launches late next year.

After takeoff - aboard the most powerful rocket in history - the four crew members led by Reid Wiseman will escape Earth's gravity and remain in orbit.

It will be then when the most "important" moment for the pilot Glover arrives.

“This spacecraft is capable of taking us back and forth to the Moon on its own,” he explains.

"But there are certain systems that we want to test first, especially those that will serve future missions to join the lander on the Moon."

Once the Orion capsule is in Earth orbit, the last part of the rocket will be floating near it.

At that time the pilot will take command of the ship.

"We'll separate from the last stage of the rocket, I'll turn the ship around to face it, and we'll maneuver as if we were going to dock with it," he explains.

When it is verified that all the systems are in perfect condition, the Orion will fire its rockets only once to leave the Earth, travel more than 380,000 kilometers to the Moon, fly over its hidden face some 10,000 kilometers away and start the return trip , all in about 10 days and governed by the capsule software, unless it is necessary for Glover to take command again.

The father of four daughters, the astronaut believes that the Artemis saga will continue for a long time.

“The first person to travel to Mars is alive today.

He is one of those kids who go to school and institute.

They will be the commanders of an Artemis, I don't know what number.

I think I'll probably still be alive when that happens.

And it will be amazing to be able to sit down with them and explain what I learned on this mission,” he explains.

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