Raleigh Astronomy Club watches Artemis II mark return to lunar flight

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- NASA's Artemis II mission has become a major topic of conversation in the Triangle since its launch last week, with members of the Raleigh Astronomy Club closely tracking the spacecraft's historic journey around the moon.

Several club members followed the launch remotely, while one traveled to Florida to watch in person as a guest along NASA's East Causeway. Photos from the launch show Artemis II lifting off from Kennedy Space Center, beginning the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades.

The mission is carrying four astronauts around the moon, marking a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program. Among them is Christina Koch, a two-time graduate of North Carolina State University and an alumna of the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

Astronomy enthusiasts say they have been glued to their phones for updates as the spacecraft moves closer to the moon.

"It is so exciting watching everybody turn all their collective attention to these four amazing people doing the unthinkable and realizing we haven't been out there in 50 years," said Samantha Pickard of the Raleigh Astronomy Club. "It's amazing that we're finally going back."

For some members, the mission brings back memories of earlier spaceflight moments, including the Apollo 13 launch, underscoring the historic significance of Artemis II for a new generation of lunar exploration.

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