Adler Planetarium holds watch party for Artemis II launch
The Artemis II mission is in motion.
At Adler Planetarium, dozens of people cheered on the launch together as the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years is now orbiting the Earth until they shoot off to the moon.
It was a moment that will surely be a core memory for so many kids and their parents—counting down as they watched the Artemis II mission unfold in real time from inside the lakeside cafe at the Adler Planetarium.
Three siblings who were there, and like many others, couldn't look away.
Alejandra Saenz, 8, might have been one of the most excited kids there.
"Because I want to be an astronaut when I grow up," she said.
Her little brother, Arturo, 6, was a little stressed.
"I'm really excited because like they're like blasting off, and I can't wait … I just need to see it," he said.
Then ... it happened.
The first crewed mission to the moon since 1972 was successfully launched. It's a moment, Alejandra's mom said she'll never forget sharing with her kids
"I'm thinking years ahead, we will be watching our daughter on her first flight into space, and I think we're going to remember this moment," Adriana said.
The same excitement was expressed at Adler, like at other watch parties, including one in Oak Park.
You'll be able to watch a live stream of the entire 10-day mission. Once the crew gets to the moon, they'll spend four days there taking photos and gathering data.
"It's incredible that 50 plus years ago, they were watching Walter Cronkite on CBS more than likely, and getting their information that way…. but here you can get it anywhere, and yet, we had a lot of people here at the Adler wanting to all nerd out in the same place at the same place at the same time to see a rocket launch," said Michelle Nichols, Adler Planetarium.
"It's one of those amazing things you're always going to remember, a core memory for them getting to see them watch their first launch like this, it's kinda of a big deal," Cristian Saenz said.