Religion in space

Last updated

Astronauts and other spaceflight participants have observed their religions while in space; sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. Religious adherence in outer space poses unique challenges and opportunities for practitioners. Space travelers have reported profound changes in the way they view their faith related to the overview effect, [1] while some secular groups have criticized the use of government spacecraft for religious activities by astronauts. [2]

Contents

Christianity

Apollo 8 Genesis Reading

The Apollo 8 Genesis reading.

On Christmas Eve, 1968 astronauts Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman read from the Book of Genesis as Apollo 8 orbited the Moon. [3] A lawsuit by American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair alleged that the observance amounted to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the First Amendment, [4] but the case was dismissed. On August 2, 1971, Apollo 15 Mission Commander David Scott left a Bible on the Lunar rover during an Extravehicular activity.

ISS crew with festive Christmas hats aboard the Zvezda service module of ISS in 2009. ISS christmas 2009.jpg
ISS crew with festive Christmas hats aboard the Zvezda service module of ISS in 2009.
Christmas morning in Node 3 in 2010. ISS-26 Christmas morning.jpg
Christmas morning in Node 3 in 2010.

Protestantism

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, a Presbyterian, performed a communion service for himself using a kit provided by his church. Aldrin had told flight director Chris Kraft of his plans and intended to broadcast the service back to Earth but opted not to at the request of Deke Slayton, due to the continuing controversy over Apollo 8's reading. [5]

A microfilm Bible that had been to the surface of the Moon was auctioned off in 2011. [6] It was a King James Version created after three astronauts lost their lives in the Apollo 1 fire. [6] Ed White, one of the astronauts who perished, had wanted to take a Bible to the Moon. [6]

On STS-128 astronaut Patrick Forrester brought a fragment of a Missionary Aviation Fellowship aircraft which had been used the by Operation Auca martyrs in Ecuador in 1956. [7]

Several members of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy mission STS-51-L were people of faith. Among them were Commander Dick Scobee and Pilot Michael J. Smith. Scobee was a Baptist who met his wife June at a church social event. After the tragedy, she would go on to write an article in Guidepost Magazine about how their faith helped her through the tragic time. Smith and his family attended a non-denominational Christian church in a community close to their home near Houston's NASA JSC Space Center.

Rick Husband, the Commander of the ill-fated STS-107 Columbia tragedy mission, was also a devout Christian. On the last-request forms that astronauts fill out before every flight, he left his pastor a personal note: "Tell them about Jesus; he's real to me." Later his wife Evelyn wrote a book about their life with him as an astronaut and the importance of their Christian faith entitled High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband (Audiobook). Likewise, his STS-107 crewmate Michael P. Anderson was also a devout Christian and when not on a mission for NASA, was an active member of the Grace Community Church choir near NASA.

Catholicism

A signed message from Pope Paul VI was included among statements from dozens of other world leaders left on the Moon on a silicon disk during the Apollo 11 mission. [8] Following the mission, William Donald Borders, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando, told the Pope that the 1917 Code of Canon Law placed the Moon within his diocese, as the first explorers had departed from Cape Kennedy which was under his jurisdiction. The claim was neither confirmed nor denied by the Pope, and the Moon is not recognized as part of the diocese in any official capacity. [9] [10] [11]

The Blessed Sacrament (the body and blood of Christ in the form of consecrated sacramental bread and wine) has been carried into space at least twice. Three Catholic astronauts on Space Shuttle mission STS-59 received Holy Communion on 17 April 1994. [12] NASA astronaut Michael S. Hopkins took a supply of six consecrated hosts to the International Space Station in September 2013, allowing him to receive the Eucharist weekly during his 24-week mission. [13]

In May 2011, Pope Benedict XVI of the Catholic Church talked to the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour while it was in Earth orbit. [14]

Russian Orthodox

A Russian Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket for ISS Expedition 31 Expedition 31 Orthodox blessing.jpg
A Russian Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket for ISS Expedition 31

Russian Orthodox Christmas was celebrated on the International Space Station, on January 7, 2011. [15] Cosmonauts had the day off, but one of the other crew posted on Twitter, "Merry Christmas to all Russia." [15] The whole crew also celebrated on December 25, two weeks prior. [15]

Cosmonauts sometimes at the request of Russian Orthodox church carry religious icons to space, which upon return to Earth are distributed to churches. [16]

Islam

Muslims in space struggle with fulfilling their religious obligations including kneeling and facing Mecca to pray in microgravity traveling at several kilometres per second. The issue first came up when Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a Saudi prince, flew aboard STS-51-G and again when Anousheh Ansari flew as a tourist to the International Space Station. [17] In preparation for Malaysian Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's trip to the ISS in 2007, the National Fatwa Council created "Muslim Obligations in the International Space Station" outlining permissible modifications to rituals such as kneeling when praying (not required in space), facing Mecca when praying (left to the astronaut's best abilities at the start of prayer), and washing (a wet towel will suffice). [18]

In February 2014, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (GAIAE) from Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa forbidding devout Muslims from participating as crew members in Mars One's proposed one-way mission to Mars. [19] Speaking for the clerical group, Farooq Hamada explained that, "Protecting life against all possible dangers and keeping it safe is an issue agreed upon by all religions and is clearly stipulated in verse 4/29 of the Holy Quran: Do not kill yourselves or one another. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful." [20]

Judaism

Jeffrey A. Hoffman spinning the first dreidel in space and describing how he celebrated Hanukkah in space.

Time and date-related observances are important in Judaism, and there have been considerations on the observance of time by Jewish astronauts. [21]

American astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman took multiple Jewish objects to space on his space flights from 1985 to 1996: a miniature Torah scroll, a yad, a Torah breastplate, mezuzot, menorahs, a dreidel, hand-woven tallit, and kiddush cups. [22] [23]

In January 2003, a microfilm Torah, a handwritten copy of the Shabbat kiddush, and a miniature Torah scroll rescued from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp were taken to space by Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. [14] Ramon and the rest of the crew died when the shuttle disintegrated during reentry. In September 2006, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean took another Torah from Bergen-Belsen aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station as a tribute to Ramon. [24]

Hinduism

In December 2006, American astronaut Sunita Williams took a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the International Space Station. In July 2012, she took there an Om symbol and a copy of the Upanishads. [25]

On 27 February 2021, SDSAT a 3U cubesat launched aboard PSLV-C51 carried a digital copy of Bhagavad Gita into space in an SD card. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Coleman</span> American astronaut, chemist, engineer and USAF colonel (born 1960)

Catherine Grace "Cady" Coleman is an American chemist, engineer, former United States Air Force colonel, and retired NASA astronaut. She is a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions, and departed the International Space Station on May 23, 2011, as a crew member of Expedition 27 after logging 159 days in space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extravehicular activity</span> Activity done by an astronaut or cosmonaut outside a spacecraft

Extravehicular activity (EVA) is any activity done by an astronaut in outer space outside a spacecraft. In the absence of a breathable Earthlike atmosphere, the astronaut is completely reliant on a space suit for environmental support. EVA includes spacewalks and lunar or planetary surface exploration. In a stand-up EVA (SEVA), an astronaut stands through an open hatch but does not fully leave the spacecraft. EVAs have been conducted by the Soviet Union/Russia, the United States, Canada, the European Space Agency and China.

Space Shuttle <i>Atlantis</i> Retired Space Shuttle orbiter (1985–2011)

Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle which belongs to NASA, the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. Atlantis was manufactured by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985. Atlantis is also the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. Its maiden flight was STS-51-J made from October 3 to 7, 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Shuttle program</span> 1972–2011 United States human spaceflight program

The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft where it was the only item funded for development, as a proposed nuclear shuttle in the plan was cancelled in 1972. It flew 135 missions and carried 355 astronauts from 16 countries, many on multiple trips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-107</span> 2003 failed flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia

STS-107 was the 113th flight of the Space Shuttle program, and the 28th and final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission ended on February 1, 2003, with the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster which killed all seven crew members and destroyed the space shuttle. It was the 88th post-Challenger disaster mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Young (astronaut)</span> American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2018)

John Watts Young was an American astronaut, naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. He became the 9th person to walk on the Moon as commander of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. He is the only astronaut to fly on four different classes of spacecraft: Gemini, the Apollo command and service module, the Apollo Lunar Module and the Space Shuttle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Haise</span> American astronaut (born 1933)

Fred Wallace Haise Jr. is an American former NASA astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, and a test pilot. He is one of 24 people to have flown to the Moon, having flown as Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 13. He was slated to become the 6th person to walk on the Moon, but the Apollo 13 landing mission was aborted en route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Bowersox</span> American astronaut (born 1956)

Kenneth Dwane "Sox" Bowersox is a United States Navy officer, and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of five Space Shuttle launches and an extended stay aboard the International Space Station. When he launched on STS-73 at the age of 38 years and 11 months, he became the youngest person to command a Space Shuttle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karol J. Bobko</span> American astronaut (1937–2023)

Karol Joseph "Bo" Bobko was an American aerospace engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and a USAF and NASA astronaut. Bobko was the first graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy to travel in space and the first person to fly on a space shuttle on three different missions: STS-6, STS-51-D, STS-51-J.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-103</span> 1999 American crewed spaceflight to the Hubble Space Telescope

STS-103, the 96th launch of the Space Shuttle and the 27th launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, was a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 19 December 1999 and returned on 27 December 1999 and was the last Shuttle mission of the 1990s. It was the only mission to span through Christmas after being delayed by 13 days for technical and weather reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Mattingly</span> American astronaut (1936–2023)

Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II was an American aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, rear admiral in the United States Navy, and astronaut who flew on Apollo 16 and Space Shuttle STS-4 and STS-51-C missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael E. Fossum</span> American astronaut and engineer (born 1957)

Michael Edward Fossum is a former American astronaut, engineer, and the Chief Operating Officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston. He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS-121 and STS-124 and served as a mission specialist of Expedition 28 and commander of Expedition 29 aboard the International Space Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Wilson</span> American astronaut and engineer (born 1966)

Stephanie Diana Wilson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She flew to space onboard three Space Shuttle missions, and is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison. As of 2022, her 42 days in space are the second most of any female African American astronaut, having been surpassed by Jessica Watkins in 2022, however in 2024 she was assigned to the Crew-9 mission during which she should retake the lead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Chamitoff</span> Canadian born engineer and NASA astronaut (born 1962)

Gregory Errol Chamitoff is a Canadian-born American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He has been to space twice, spending 6 months aboard the ISS across Expedition 17 and 18 in 2008, and another 15 days as part of STS-134 in 2011. STS-134 was the last of Space Shuttle Endeavour which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and completed the US Orbital Segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Nyberg</span> American mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut

Karen LuJean Nyberg is an American mechanical engineer and retired NASA astronaut. Nyberg became the 50th woman in space on her first mission in 2008. Nyberg holds a Ph.D in mechanical engineering. She started her space career in 1991 and spent a total of 180 days in space in 2008 and 2013 as a mission specialist on STS-124 and a flight engineer on Soyuz TMA-09M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASA Astronaut Group 16</span> 1996 human spaceflight selection of 44 candidates; "The Sardines"

NASA Astronaut Group 16 was a group of 44 astronauts announced by NASA on May 1, 1996. The class was nicknamed "The Sardines" for being such a large class, humorously implying that their training sessions would be as tightly packed as sardines in a can. These 44 candidates compose the largest astronaut class to date. NASA selected so many candidates in preparation for the anticipated need for ISS crew members, along with regular shuttle needs. Nine of the 44 astronauts selected were from other countries including 5 from Europe and 2 from Canada and Japan.

<i>Hail Columbia</i> (film) 1982 American film

Hail Columbia is a 1982 American IMAX documentary film about NASA's Space Shuttle program, particularly the first Space Shuttle, Columbia. The film was directed by Graeme Ferguson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal preference kit</span> Container for astronauts personal items

The Personal Preference Kit (PPK) is a container used to carry the personal items of astronauts during the Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station programs. Items that astronauts choose to carry into space are approved by NASA management and stored in PPKs. Information on the contents of kits are usually kept private by the astronaut, although some contents have been put on display or given as awards to contributors to space programs.

References

  1. "Astronauts report an "overview effect" from the awe of space travel—and you can replicate it here on Earth". 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. "O'Hair v. Paine, 397 U.S. 531". Findlaw. 1970. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  3. Haney, Paul (August 10, 2009). "Further reflections on a golden space era". Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  4. Chaikin, Andrew (1994). A Man On The Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts . Viking. pp. 204, 623. ISBN   0-670-81446-6.
  5. "Communion in Space". Guideposts. October 1970.
  6. 1 2 3 Menzie, Nicola (2011). "NASA's First Bible on the Moon to Be Auctioned Off". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  7. Wood, Janice (October 5, 2009). "Astronaut returns to Earth with piece of missionary history". IGeneral Aviation News. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  8. "Apollo 11 Goodwill Messages" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  9. "Remembering the Bishop of the Moon". Archived from the original on 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  10. "Did Apollo 11 mission make Orlando's founding bishop the bishop of moon?". Crux. 2019-07-20. Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  11. "Yes, the moon has its own Catholic Bishop". Aleteia.org. 2018-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  12. "When Astronauts Received Holy Communion in Space". National Catholic Register. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on September 11, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  13. Dennis Sadowski (April 7, 2016). "For Catholic astronauts, flying to space doesn't mean giving up the faith". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  14. 1 2 Patterson, Thom (7 July 2011). "The surprising history of prayer in space". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 January 2011, Tariq Malik 07 (7 January 2011). "Christmas Comes Twice for Russians in Space". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2021-03-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. "The artworks flown to outer space". Apollo Magazine. 2021-10-21. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21. The cosmonaut tradition, meanwhile, is to take religious icons depicting saints or the holy family on to space stations. As recent research which we conducted in collaboration with the icon scholar Wendy Salmond shows, this is sometimes at the request of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church. The returned icons are not sold but distributed to churches.
  17. Gartner, Bettina (October 10, 2007). "How does an Islamic astronaut face Mecca in orbit?". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  18. "Astronaut to grapple with daily prayer ritual". NBC News. September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  19. "Ulama Arab Saudi Mengeluarkan Fatwa Melarang Muslim ke Mars". Satu Harapan (in Indonesian). 2013-11-03. Archived from the original on 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  20. "Muslim clerics issue fatwa banning the devout from Mars One 'suicide' mission". The A Register. February 22, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  21. Wattles, Jackie (December 7, 2021). "How to practice religion could be a big question for some space tourists". CNN. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  22. Keva, Bette (26 June 2019). "Document in works about astronaut who brought Torah deep into space". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021.
  23. Fein, Judie. "The Ultimate Jewish Traveler". Chabad.org. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  24. Weiman, Racelle R. (29 December 2006). "Sacred flight". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021.
  25. "Sunita Williams sends out Diwali greetings from space". TimeS NOW. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021.
  26. "Brazil's Amazonia-1 on board with Bhagavad Gita". 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.