Legal Insurrection reported a major online debate over complaints that Artemis III has an all-male crew. The debate is over whether the crew should be based on qualifications alone or include factors that inspire people, such as gender. Apparently, picking a woman is supposed to be inspiring. To me, it’s more inspiring to know that Mr. Isaacman is picking the right people for this very risky and critical mission.
The memes are out:
One physicist/astronomer wrote on X:
When billions of dollars, cutting-edge technology, and human lives are at stake, should every seat be awarded purely on merit? Or should representation also play a role in missions that inspire the world?
One thing is undeniable: every astronaut selected has spent years earning the opportunity through dedication, sacrifice, and hard work.
🌕 Artemis III will be one of the most significant space missions of our generation.
What would you prioritize: the most qualified candidates, representation, or a balance of both?
NASA Chief Jared Isaacman quickly quashed this inanity.
Isaacman said that some astronauts may not have been selected for the Artemis III flight because they are already on tap for expeditions to the International Space Station or because their training and skill sets make them more suitable for future Artemis missions, during which astronauts are expected to land on the moon.
“The Astronaut Office assigns the crew that gives the mission the best chance of meeting its objectives, taking into account many factors, including the background and expertise of the astronauts, such as test pilot experience, development work on specific programs, and availability,” he said.
The crew includes a black man. Why isn’t that enough?
These people are nuts.
Legal Insurrection writes:
Artemis III is not a social experiment but a high-risk, high-precision test mission meant to push hardware, procedures, and human performance to their limits. The priority is not optics; it is execution.
NASA selected a crew with deep test pilot experience, operational discipline, and mission-specific readiness because failure is not an abstract concept in spaceflight, rather it is a potential catastrophe that can result in the death of the astronauts and a severe setback to the American space program. Those demanding demographic box-checking over demonstrated capability are, quite simply, arguing for the wrong metric at the worst possible time.
DEI must be abolished if America is to save itself.
