What I'm learning from the Artemis Mission

The big thing in the news these days is the Artemis mission, it feels like it comes up in every conversation. In general there’s a real fascination with space exploration and we apparently even have better satellite maps of Mars and the Moon than we do of the ocean.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that everything a person sees or hears is part of the Divine plan, and carries a lesson for our own lives. As we follow the Artemis mission, beyond the science and discoveries, there is also something here for us to learn. With the four astronauts currently in flight, here are three lessons the Rebbe taught during the earlier Apollo missions:
1. G-d has given each one of us a purpose and mission in this world. Just like an astronaut cannot suddenly decide his role is somewhere else, and the engineer in Mission Control cannot switch places either, for the mission to succeed each person must do their specific task. So too in our lives, we must strive to do precisely what G-d wants of us, and not try to turn it into something else.
2. Astronauts carry enormous responsibility. A mission costing billions and built over decades depends on the actions of a single individual. They cannot rely on others or assume everything is already in place. Every detail must be followed carefully, since even a small deviation can jeopardize the entire mission. The same is true in our lives. Each of us has a role that G-d has prescribed, and it matters that we fulfill it with care and precision.
3. One of the challenges in rocket design was achieving liftoff and escaping Earth’s orbit. The thrust required demands large amounts of fuel, but that creates a cycle: the more fuel you carry, the heavier the rocket becomes, which in turn requires even more fuel. The solution was the multi-stage Saturn rocket, which sheds its empty sections during flight. In the same way, just as a rocket must release what is no longer needed in order to rise higher, a person must let go of unnecessary and outdated habits to grow and reach higher spiritual goals.
While we work to incorporate these in our life, let us wish them success in their mission and pray for a safe and successful return this evening.