Raleigh Astronomy Club Celebrates Artemis II's Lunar Return

Local stargazers closely track NASA's first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:55pm

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Members of the Raleigh Astronomy Club have been closely following the progress of NASA's Artemis II mission, which launched last week and is carrying four astronauts, including North Carolina native Christina Koch, on a historic journey around the moon. The club has been glued to updates as the spacecraft moves closer to its lunar destination, with some members even traveling to Florida to witness the launch in person.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. The mission has generated significant excitement and interest among the local astronomy community, who see it as a historic moment in space exploration.

The details

Several Raleigh Astronomy Club members followed the Artemis II launch remotely, while one traveled to Florida to watch in person as a guest along NASA's East Causeway. Photos from the launch show the spacecraft lifting off from Kennedy Space Center, beginning the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades. The mission is carrying four astronauts, including Christina Koch, a two-time graduate of North Carolina State University and an alumna of the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

  • Artemis II launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The spacecraft is expected to reach the moon in the coming days.

The players

Raleigh Astronomy Club

A local astronomy enthusiast group that has been closely following the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

One of the four astronauts on the Artemis II mission, who is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the North Carolina School of Science and Math.

Samantha Pickard

A member of the Raleigh Astronomy Club who expressed excitement about the historic significance of the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“It is so exciting watching everybody turn all their collective attention to these four amazing people doing the unthinkable and realizing we haven't been out there in 50 years. It's amazing that we're finally going back.”

— Samantha Pickard, Raleigh Astronomy Club member

What’s next

The Artemis II spacecraft is expected to complete its lunar flyby and return to Earth in the coming days, marking the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

The Raleigh Astronomy Club's enthusiasm for the Artemis II mission reflects the broader excitement and anticipation surrounding NASA's return to the moon, which has captured the imagination of space enthusiasts across North Carolina and the country.