Across Miami-Dade and Broward, students and residents gathered to tune in for the countdown to the launch of Artemis II, humanity’s first lunar trip in more than a half century. As NASA crews prepared four astronauts to reach parts of space humankind has never gone before, several residents acr oss South Florida gathered At Florida International University’s West Miami-Dade campus, students packed a classroom, buzzing with excitement just 20 minutes before the launch process was expected to begin. The lunar mission hits close to home for the university, with 13 FIU alumni having an active part in making NASA’s launch possible. All 13 of those former panthers were hard at work near Cape Canaveral, ensuring Artemis II and its crew was fully prepared to head into space. With the last successful launch happening more than 50 years ago in 1972, Wednesday’s mission serves as a momentous inspiration for future generations and raising the limits of space exploration. “I feel excited and anxious, and want it to happen because, you know, these launches aren’t guaranteed, you know, there’s a launch window of about two hours and if anything, the slightest little thing comes up, then they could be delayed or it could be put off for another day. I’m just hoping they go today,” said Dr. James Webb, the director at FIU’s Stocker AstroScience Center. Webb added that the astronauts’ efforts will be a boon for all of humanity. “They’re doing it for all of us, not just for them, not just for the United States, for the entire world,” he said. Once the launch process begins, students will have 60 seconds to run upstairs to try to catch a glimpse of the rocket flying across the Miami skyline into space. Meanwhile in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, beachgoers lined up on the sand also hoping to spot Artemis II in the distance once it makes its skyward climb. ...read more read less