HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — Four astronauts launched into space today, and families gathered at Infinity Science Center to watch history in the making and a return to a familiar frontier.
The Artemis II rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“It’s amazing. I can’t believe we’re doing this in over a decade — not decade, five decades,” said Catherine Robin, 10.
Although it has been 50 years since the last crewed lunar mission, the technology has changed and the mission has changed. But one thing remains the same: to get to space, the mission goes through Hancock County.
Testing the boosters
One of the most memorable parts of any space mission is the launch, and the first boosters that take a ship from ground to orbit are tested at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.
“They say we like to test the outside of the box on those. We push those engines harder than you’re actually going to test them — or actually fly,” said Josh Greiner, test operations engineer. “So, you’re trying to hit the bounds of those things to see where they are in development, and now, we go back into our test as you fly profile. So, typically, we’re running the same kind of profile they’re going to do on fly day, and we’re doing it here at the Stennis Space Center.”
Whether it’s the Artemis program or the Apollo program, Stennis is doing its part to get man to the moon.
“I’ve gotten to meet the astronauts on Artemis II, at least three of the four. It’s incredible. They’re risking their lives to go do this incredible work, and we’re just glad to be a part of some of that, just to get them off the Earth to go do something great,” Greiner said. “It’s incredibly rewarding work.”
Inspiring a new generation
After a successful launch, the work is inspiring a generation experiencing space travel in a new light.
“I like how there can be other species out there, and we just don’t know it and how there’s a bunch of infinite galaxies to explore out there,” Catherine Robin said.
“It seems so unreal to me, and it feels like whoa, this can’t be real. What do you mean I could live in space one day?” said Kaitlyn Ferrucci.
While the crew travels through space, everyone back home is wishing them safe travels.
“We wish them luck, we wish that nothing bad happens,” said Steven Ferrucci. “I think this one is going to be a very promising mission.”
“I would say, ‘Thank you for everything that you’re doing, and just know that you are doing a huge thing for humanity,’” Kaitlyn Ferrucci said.
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