05/12/2026
Joanna Gardner contributes this week's MythBlast, “Pink Pony Club” Goes Zero-G.
Over the first ten days of April 2026, millions of earthlings witnessed a real-world heroic journey in real time when NASA’s Artemis II mission sent astronauts hurtling into space to orbit the moon then return to Earth. Four astronaut-heroes left homes, families, and breathable atmosphere to brave the vastness of space, change forever, and return with new insights to share with the global community.
Joseph Campbell often discussed his fascination with the 1960’s Apollo moon missions, for example in The Hero’s Journey (91-93), so I can’t help but wonder what he might make of the Artemis program. Almost sixty years have passed since Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and—mythologically speaking—the Apollo and Artemis programs present a striking contrast.
Embracing the spirit of Artemis
First, naming a moon program after Artemis makes far more mythic sense than after Apollo. While both Artemis and Apollo drive chariots of light across the sky—like today’s spacecraft—Artemis is the Greek goddess of the moon, Apollo the god of the sun. Artemis represents nature uncultivated by humans, whereasApollo embodies reason, logic, and intellect. In that sense, naming the mission Artemis better aligns with the wildness of space than with human minds. Focusing on Artemis decenters Apollo who, in our heliocentric solar system, so often takes center stage. In this case, however, he and Artemis joined forces—moon and sun, sister and brother—beautifully united in the majestic eclipse the astronauts witnessed.
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https://www.jcf.org/post/pink-pony-club-goes-zero-g