Artemis II launch pauses Florida-Stetson softball game
The Artemis II crewed rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, captivating players during a college softball game between the Florida Gators and Stetson University. Florida utility player Madison Walker pointed skyward, while Stetson freshman Gaby Bauer stood at home plate in awe as the launch occurred just before 7 p.m. local time. The game took place at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida, about an hour's drive from the launch site.
The mission marks NASA's first lunar voyage with astronauts in more than five decades, carrying commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew will orbit the moon at a distance of about 248,000 miles, passing 4,000 miles beyond before returning to Earth after roughly 10 days. Visibility from central Florida allowed spectators at the game to witness the rocket's ascent.
No. 7 seed Florida defeated Stetson 8-2 after the launch excitement subsided, extending its win streak over the in-state rival to 14 games dating to 2006.
