NASA asked, and the public answered.
“Our return to the Moon through Artemis is a global effort – and we’re always looking at new ways to engage the public in our missions. This contest, which is helping pave the way for a human return to the Moon, also honors an important individual in our NASA family – Arturo Campos,” Brian Odom, NASA’s acting chief historian at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement.And the winner is… Campos! After collecting 300K total votes throughout the campaign, Commander Moonikin Campos will embark on the #Artemis I mission around the Moon.The name is a dedication to Arturo Campos, key player in bringing Apollo 13 home: https://t.co/WUYdiBxwb0 pic.twitter.com/jiftPyVWCD
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) June 29, 2021
“It is a fitting tribute that the data gained from Artemis I will help us prepare to fly astronauts – including the first woman and first person of color – to the Moon, where we will get ready for Mars.”
Campos's job in the mission is making sure the Orion spacecraft is safe for humans. Wearing the Orion Crew Survival System suit, it is essential to test it along with the rest of the functions on the spacecraft.
But Campos won't be going into space alone.
Having been made in partnership between an American and Israeli company, the vest proudly displays the flags of both countries.
The vests have already been sent to the International Space Station for the Comfort and Human Factors AstroRad Radiation Garment Evaluation (CHARGE) study mean to test the vest in a microgravity environment. This study will help improve the vest's fit and function.
Both tests are being conducted by NASA in partnership with the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and could see the AstoRad become a critical component for NASA's future space exploration plans.