East Tennesseans Witness Historic Artemis II Lunar Launch

Local residents, including a former UT quarterback, traveled to Florida to see NASA's first lunar mission in decades.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:05pm

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Locals from East Tennessee, including former University of Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs and a family from Dandridge, traveled to Florida to witness the historic launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar voyage in decades. A Tennessee Tech University faculty member was also selected to be part of the Artemis lunar surface science team.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in the United States' renewed efforts to return humans to the moon, with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence. The participation of East Tennesseans in this historic event highlights the region's strong ties to the space program and the excitement surrounding the new era of lunar exploration.

The details

The Artemis II mission launched four astronauts on a flight around the moon, paving the way for future crewed landings. Among the local attendees were former UT quarterback Josh Dobbs, who has worked at NASA during the offseason, and a family from Dandridge who have been 'chasing the moon' for years. Additionally, a Tennessee Tech University faculty member, Jeannette Luna, was selected to be part of the Artemis lunar surface science team.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 2, 2026.
  • NASA plans to land astronauts near the moon's South Pole in 2028.

The players

Josh Dobbs

A former University of Tennessee quarterback who has worked at NASA during the offseason and helped send UT aerospace students to witness the Artemis II launch.

Jeannette Luna

The interim assistant dean of research and graduate studies for Tennessee Tech University's College of Arts & Sciences, who was selected as a participating scientist on the first Artemis lunar surface science team.

Pasternak family

A family from Dandridge, Tennessee who have traveled across the country to learn more about space and participate in events honoring the Apollo 11 mission.

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What they’re saying

“We've been chasing the moon for years, and have even traveled to New York and Washington D.C. to participate in events honoring the Apollo 11 Mission.”

— Pasternak family, Dandridge, Tennessee residents

What’s next

NASA plans to land astronauts near the moon's South Pole in 2028, building on the success of the Artemis II mission.

The takeaway

The participation of East Tennesseans in the historic Artemis II launch highlights the region's deep ties to the space program and the excitement surrounding the new era of lunar exploration. As NASA works towards its goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the moon, the involvement of local residents and experts will continue to play a crucial role.