Singaporean singer Derrick Hoh literally sent his daughter's name "to the Moon and back" aboard NASA's Artemis II mission. The historic lunar fly-by, the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, carried over 5.6 million names submitted to NASA.
Hoh registered his daughter Nori's name on NASA's website, a gesture he made knowing her love for space. The names were stored on a memory card placed inside 'Rise,' the mission's stuffed animal mascot and zero-gravity indicator.
The mission commander, Reid Wiseman, expressed the significance of carrying the names, stating, "the little memory card with everyone's names, everyone's hopes that are going on this journey with us... We are going for all and by all."
Hoh, a former contestant on Project SuperStar, had initially forgotten about the registration due to the birth of his second child. He was reminded after a conversation with castmates about a musical, which led him to confirm his daughter's name had indeed made the journey.
He shared the profound meaning of the trip, noting that "For a brief moment, a part of her was out there. Farther than most of us will ever go. And now it’s back." Hoh compared this real journey to the bedtime story he shares with Nori, "I love you right up to the Moon and back."