For the second year, astronaut and contest visionary John Shoffner invites students and educators from across the world to submit a drawing, painting or written poetry in the International Space Art and Poetry Contest.

About the International Space Art and Poetry Contest

Participants from around the globe will have the chance to showcase vivid color and curiosity as they take us on a journey into space as they envision it.

Eight category representatives will receive special recognition from the International Space Station (ISS) in addition to receiving physical prints of their creation sent down from space.

Entries will be categorized by age division (5-8, 9-13, 14-18, and a newly added educator category), as well as by genre (visual art and poetry).

Judges

Submissions will be scored by an esteemed panel of judges including:

• NASA Icon and Axiom Space Director of Human Space Flight Peggy Whitson, who holds more time in space than any American or woman in history
• STEAM advocate, contest visionary and Axiom Mission (Ax-2) Pilot John Shoffner
• Executive Director of Limitless Space Institute, Kaci Heins
• Visual Artist, poet and published author, Monique Lorden

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NASA has announced the four astronauts who will fly around the moon late next year, including the first African American, the first woman, and the first Canadian assigned to the mission.

First moon crew in 50 years

The first moon crew in 50 years was introduced during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen, will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.

Historic mission

The flight will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for future for long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”

Launch date

Artemis II is set to take off around November 2024. The crew members, strapped inside the Orion spacecraft, will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mission is expected to last about 10 days and will send the crew out beyond the moon, potentially further than any human has traveled in history.

When NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins launches to the International Space Station next year, she will make history.

ISS Mission

The Maryland native is set to become the first Black woman to join the international space station crew, and live and work in space on a six month mission on the orbiting outpost.

The agency announced Tuesday that Watkins will fly to the space station in April 2022, alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency.

The crew for this mission — known as Crew-4 — will be the fourth rotation of astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.

Jessica Watkins Space Journey

Watkins became a NASA astronaut in 2017 and has worked in the space agency’s research centers, particularly on the Mars rover, Curiosity.

Watkins says she grew up admiring astronauts like Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. And she hopes her work aboard the ISS will inspire more kids of color to aspire to space travel.

“I do hope that all young girls, especially young girls of color that are interested in STEM and interested in exploring space, feel empowered to do so,” Watkins told Colorado Public Radio last year. “I just hope young girls across the country feel that way now.”

Photo Source : NASA