FLORIDA: NASA’s Artemis 2 is set to carry three Americans and one Canadian on a journey expected to take astronauts farther into space than any crew has gone before, surpassing the distance reached during the Apollo missions.
The mission, the first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years, will mark several milestones, including the first person of colour, the first woman, and the first non-American to travel on such a mission, reports AFP.
Liftoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:24 pm local time (2224 GMT), with around 400,000 spectators expected to gather near the launch site, according to local reports.
The weather’s looking good for tomorrow’s Artemis II launch, and our teams are getting the rocket ready for liftoff!
Read the latest updates on our mission around the Moon: https://t.co/doIjUqa1cx pic.twitter.com/TtoI6FIkvl
— NASA (@NASA) March 31, 2026
On the beaches near the launch complex, visitors and residents expressed excitement at witnessing what many described as a historic moment.
Families travelling from across the United States said they had not initially planned to attend the launch but were eager to watch after realising the timing of their visits.
Action. Wonder. Adventure. Artemis II has got it all. Don’t miss the moment. Our crewed Moon mission will launch as early as April 1.
Learn how to watch: https://t.co/fAg0bGAqEc pic.twitter.com/2uhg8EhwTv
— NASA (@NASA) March 30, 2026
“It’s definitely cool to know that humans are going further than ever before,” one visitor told AFP from Cocoa Beach.
Others said they felt fortunate to witness the event, with children particularly enthusiastic about the rare opportunity.
Despite the significance of the mission, many Americans remain unaware of it, according to interviews conducted by AFP in recent weeks.
Some older spectators compared the current moment with the heightened excitement during the Apollo era, when space missions drew widespread public attention amid the Cold War-era space race.
Nevertheless, those gathered in Florida said they were looking forward to the launch, with many planning to arrive early to secure a view of the liftoff.
