THE CHARIOT OF MÀNI: BEARING WITNESS

oon exploration, when mentioned, has always been a thing of the past for me. A relic of the sixties and seventies illustrated by low-quality, crackly videos of astronauts weightlessly bounding across the lunar surface...

...until now.

This month’s full moon has welcomed potential new visitors. The Artemis II mission promised to send humans around the far side of the moon—further than anyone has ever travelled—and kick-start a new era of exploration.

The last time a human walked on the moon was December 1972. I was only eighteen months old, entirely unaware of the giants leaving the earth. Because of that, this moment excites me immensely.

I sat up and watched the launch with bated breath. Aware of the historical significance, our daughter let our grandson stay up to watch with us. I don't think he quite grasped the magnitude of that streak of fire, but we will be able to tell him he was there when he’s older. He is the same age now as I was during the final Apollo mission. While he only sees the glow of the screen for now, I am keeping this memory safe for him—a bridge between the moon-walkers of my infancy and the voyagers of his future.

I feel honoured to bear witness to this. I always felt I lived in a strange middle-ground where lunar exploration was both behind and in front of me, a feat I might never see in my own lifetime. Now, there is a real chance I’ll see a human step onto that orbiting lump of cheese.

In Norse mythology, Máni is the god of the moon. Brother to the sun goddess, Sól, he guides his chariot across the sky, accompanied by the children Hjuki and Bil, while the wolf Hati pursues them relentlessly through the dark. Seeing modern steel follow that same ancient path feels right.

Looking ahead, the Artemis mission represents a fundamental shift in our relationship with the stars. This isn't just about a brief visit; it is about building a permanent hall among the craters. By establishing the Lunar Gateway and a base camp at the South Pole, they are learning to live off the land—harvesting ice for water and fuel—and turning the Moon into a stepping stone for the long voyage to Mars. It is a bold move toward self-reliance in the deep black. As I watch history unfold, I am hopeful that the path paved by Máni today will be the one my grandson walks tomorrow.

I’ve been following the mission closely, watching history unfold. It is a worthy, hopeful diversion from the horrors currently unfolding on our own soil.

The spirit of the Urban Viking—and the occasional absurdity of navigating the modern world—lives on in my webcomic, Northman. 

You can read the latest chapter here: northman.kirt.me.uk

I’ll be sharing more of my journey and the daily reality of staying grounded in the modern world over on social media. Join in:

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