For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are on a path back to the moon. But in East Texas, not everyone was aware of the historic moment unfolding.
NASA’s Artemis II mission lifted off Wednesday evening. At the Tyler Junior College Earth and Space Science Center, educators said the launch represents more than a milestone — it marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration.
“We have lots of great programs about space and science,” said Beau Hartweg, director of the center. “We also have a program about the Artemis mission called ‘Forward to the Moon.’ It explains the science behind it, why we’re sending people back to the moon, and helps educate the public.”
Several students on campus said they didn’t know the mission was happening. TJC freshman Zaniriya White said she expects to see coverage on social media, adding the launch sparked curiosity about what astronauts experience during space travel.
“Scared, maybe a little anxious, because you’re leaving Earth,” White said.
Dr. Scott Lieberman, an interventional cardiologist and freelance photographer for The Associated Press, said spaceflight still carries serious risks.
“You still cannot underestimate the fact that they are sitting on basically two sticks of dynamite and liquid fuel,” Lieberman said. “This is a dangerous environment.”
Lieberman, who has followed space missions since the Apollo era, said launches once captured widespread public attention in a way that is harder to replicate today.
“Astronauts were a central part of life. They were the pop figures of my childhood,” he said.
With constant access to information, Lieberman said major events can feel less unifying.
“Everybody has a pocket computer that has a feed to absolutely everything happening in the world,” he said. “So everyone knows nothing now.”
At the Earth and Space Science Center, Hartweg said reconnecting the public with moments like this is part of the mission.
“It’s kind of fallen out of recent memory,” Hartweg said. “That’s why we’re trying to help educate the public.”
Hartweg said Artemis II is designed to pave the way for future exploration, including the possibility of long-term human presence on the moon.
“The goal is to create a permanent base on the moon and use that as a stepping stone to Mars and beyond,” he said.
For now, East Texans are watching closely.
“Godspeed and good luck,” Lieberman said.
The TJC Earth and Space Science Center is featuring its “Forward to the Moon” program daily at 3 p.m., offering a closer look at the Artemis mission and what comes next.