Singapore singer sends daughter’s name on trip to the moon and back aboard Artemis II

CNA Singapore is delighted to share this heartwarming story of a Singaporean father's unique gesture towards his daughter. Derrick Hoh's decision to send his daughter Nori's name on the Artemis II mission is a touching example of parental love and a celebration of space exploration.

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End of last year, knowing how much Nori loves space, I went to NASA’s website and registered her name for a mission after reading about it online. It felt like a small, quiet thing at the time.

The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed lunar fly-by in over 50 years, provided a fitting backdrop for this personal tribute. The inclusion of Nori's name on a memory card, carried aboard the Orion spacecraft and nestled within the mission's mascot, Rise, transforms a scientific endeavor into a deeply personal journey. This initiative, which saw over 5.6 million names submitted, highlights a growing trend of personalizing space missions and connecting them to everyday lives.

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Just that act of seeing that little memory card with everyone's names, everyone's hopes that are going on this journey with us. We always say we're going for all and by all, and zipping that little pocket on the bottom of Rise was kind of the moment that put it all together for me. We are going for all and by all. It’s time to fly. Cheers.

Hoh's inspiration, drawn from the beloved children's book phrase "I love you to the Moon and back," adds a layer of emotional resonance. For him, this was not just about a digital submission but about creating a tangible, albeit symbolic, experience for his daughter. As he shared, "For a brief moment, a part of her was out there. Farther than most of us will ever go. And now it’s back." This sentiment captures the wonder and ambition of space travel, making it accessible and meaningful even to the youngest among us.

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It left Earth, travelled all the way to the Moon, went behind it… and came all the way back home. For a brief moment, a part of her was out there. Farther than most of us will ever go. And now it’s back.

This story resonates particularly in Singapore, a nation that prides itself on innovation and forward-thinking. It showcases how global events like NASA's lunar missions can be embraced and personalized, reflecting a blend of technological aspiration and profound human connection. It's a reminder that even in the vastness of space, the most significant journeys are often those undertaken for the ones we love.

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I used to say it as a feeling. Something you can’t measure. But this time… a part of her actually made the trip. I really did that for her.