Artemis I

 

Artemis I is NASA's first step to returning to moon after 50 years since astronauts landed there for the last time.  The giant moon rocket at the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule will take off on Sept 2nd.

The SLS rocket will attempt to send the Orion capsule around the moon and back with no one aboard. Astronauts could circle the moon in 2024 and attempt a lunar landing in 2025.  Artemis exploration programs was named after God Apollo's twin sister Artemis in Greek mythology.

NASA official said that the moon missions will be central to its human spaceflight program which aims to establish ultimately a long-term presence on Moon's surface and prepare for future missions to Mars. 

NASA called off moon launch twice due to a hydrogen leak.  NASA said that Artemis I is now scheduled to launch on Sept 27 or Oct 2. 

Dawn

In Greek mythology Dawn or Eos (Ηως in Greek) is a Goddess that rises each morning from her home the Ocean (Οκεανος).  In the Homeric Hymn to Helios, we are told that Hyperion married  Eryphaesa, and begot tireless Helios (the Sun), rosy Eos (the Dawn) and fair tressed Selene (the Moon).  Dawn appears as many as twenty times in The Odyssey, and the poem repeats similar descriptions of her such as “But when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared…”  Book Eight first lines read When young Dawn with her red-rose fingers shone once more, the royal Alcinous, hallowed island king, rose from bed and great Odysseus, raider of cities, rose too. A There are many similar expressions in Homeric verse, which suggest that different things will happen every day, but Dawn always appears early and always with her rosy fingers.

The Greek Goddess Eos in her Chariot ready for another day of travel.  Edifice found in Herculaneum

Sunrise in our little paradise on earth Porto Rafti: the Homeric expression “when newborn Dawn appeared with rosy fingers…” describes our feelings when we see Eos. At dawn the hue of the sea becomes pink.  The waves become placid and their phosphoresce reflects shades of a red carnation. Όλος ο γιαλός ροδίζει γύρω. Τα κύματα φρικιούν ήρεμα, και το φωσφόρισμά των ανταυγάζει αποχρώσεις ερυθρού γαροφάλλου..." Παπαδιαμαντης

Sunrise in Ukraine; the Homeric expression “when the early Dawn was born; her fingers bloomed” is most appropriate.

The golden throne of Dawn was riding up the sky… and brought a beautiful day… in frozen Lake Baikal.

Aurora, ceiling fresco by Guido Reni (1613) Picture from Encyclopedia Brittanica

Our journey at midcourse – Aeolian Sea

At this point in time – as we had reached the midpoint of our journey - I think it is appropriate to mention a few facts about our terrific boat that carried us safely from Spain to Greece.  The J/92 is a 30ft/9m sailboat that was introduced in 1992 by J/Boats of Bristol, RI.  Its beam is 10ft wide and its keel draws 6ft (1.80 meters) and weights 2,275lb or 1,032kg.  Her displacement (total weight) is 5,500lb or 2,495kg.  She also has a 9hp auxiliary diesel engine.  The picture was taken the day of our departure from the charming Aeolian island, Salina.  

The J/92 is a unique sailboat.  It has a large cockpit and sailing systems are as simple as those of a cruiser but its response and acceleration is that of a finely tuned racer.  The J/92 has won several PHRF championships on lakes Michigan and Lanier and as our offshore passage taught us it handles remarkably well in light winds and in stormy conditions alike.  The name of the sailboat at that time was “Vol de Nuit” but upon arrival in Greece, she took the name of “Okyrhoe” who according to Hesiod was an oceanid, one of Ocean’s daughters.  Her name derives from the Greek words Ωκυς (fast) and ροη (unimpeded flow).  Ωκυροη was a water deity that journeys unhindered from sea to sea and similarly to her our wonderful sailboat took us across five seas in our journey. 

Sailing under spinnaker in perfect weather.

If the need arise and someone has to go up the mast, the younger or skinnier sailor is drafted for the task.  The younger in the crew, Kostas, volunteered to go up and I gladly agreed to take a picture! 

Several of you wondered what we were eating during our trip.  We had one main meal, usually an early dinner around 6 pm, which was stale bread, tomatoes, cucumber and one of the following-salmon, tuna, sardines or mackerel-from tin cans.  For seconds Kostas liked dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and I liked salted chips.  Bottled water, coke and beer kept us well hydrated.

Sailing under spinnaker at sunrise heading east, as the sun was at our bow, towards the Strait of Messina and Sicily. 

Sicily has enchanted visitors since the beginning of time.  The Ancient Greeks were among the first who wrote about Sicily in their histories and mythology.  It was here that Pluto abducted Persephone from Demeter and Helios (Apollo) pastured his flocks.  Most of the events that Homer described in Odyssey took place either in Sicily or nearby islands.  And anyone who has known Sicily brings with him a lifelong nostalgia for its people, food, music, history and culture.