BALTIMORE COUNTY — The Artemis II crew is scheduled to splashdown off the coast of San Diego tonight, and a Baltimore County high school is hosting a party to celebrate the return.
Dulaney High School is hosting a splashdown party to not only celebrate the return of Artemis II, but also the homecoming of Reid Wiseman — a 1993 graduate.
"I live an hour and a half away, but I wouldn't miss it," Jennifer Lucas said. "It is very surreal to see because I've known my entire life, my brother's best friends with him, we grew up on the same street, our parents were friends, and it's really amazing to see one of your friends go to the moon!"
She says he's always been a guy everyone loves, very down to earth.
The party ran from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Dulaney Auditorium; the moment of splashdown earned a roar from the crowd of Dulaney Lions.
"Cheered and screamed, it's great to know they made it home," Jim Ayres said, class of 1980. "I won't ever forget it for the rest of my life. I remember the day man landed on the moon, and this is just like it."
Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1. During the mission, the astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans before them, capturing new views of the moon during their flyby and a striking Earthrise.
"To think he came from Dulaney High School here in Baltimore County in the state of Maryland and he's on the world stage leading this operation is incredible," Ayres said.
The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972.
