Crowds from around the country gathered near the Kennedy Space Center as the planned Artemis II liftoff approached. Among them was Matt and his son Jack, who set up at Space View Park in Titusville, Florida, arriving early—around 7:30 a.m.—to claim a good view of the launch pad. By midmorning the family viewing areas were filling with parents, kids and longtime space enthusiasts.
Jack arrived dressed in a child’s spacesuit. He said the simple thrill of watching the rocket climb away from Earth was what he was most excited about. Beneath his suit he wore a solar system T-shirt and eagerly pointed out Orion and Artemis II as the reason for the day’s excitement.
A reporter on site praised Jack’s enthusiasm and asked whether Mars might be his goal. Jack laughed that he’s “so obsessed with space,” but quipped that Mars is a bit far off for now—he joked he’d need a ‘‘100‑pound rocket’’ to get there.
As countdown time neared, the atmosphere in the park grew charged. The reporter called Jack a ‘‘future commander’’ and noted that there seemed to be future astronauts scattered throughout the crowd, with people from all over turned out and energized for the moment. Despite the long wait, anticipation and joy increased as the scheduled liftoff drew closer.