An estimated 400,000 people traveled to Florida’s Space Coast on Wednesday to watch the Artemis II launch, the first manned moon mission in 53 years. The event brought tens of millions of dollars to the region, with visitors arriving from across the U.S. and as far as Canada. Terry Byrd drove from Knoxville, Tennessee, to witness the launch. He has attended every manned moon mission since the Apollo era and said his family has been coming to Florida for decades to watch launches. “That’s pretty much been my life, coming to Florida every summer to watch a launch,” Byrd said. Peter Cranis, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism, called the Artemis II event a “bucket list item” that is reviving the region’s tourism industry after years of slower activity following the end of the shuttle program. Rockets now launch about once a week, he said, making the Space Coast a regular destination for space enthusiasts. “Artemis is the ultimate bucket list item because it means we’re back to the moon,” Cranis said. Rick Jieff traveled from Niagara Falls, Canada, to see the launch. “This big one hasn’t happened in decades, so we can’t miss this,” he said. Byrd, whose family worked at Kennedy Space Center during the 1960s space race, said the launches have been a lifelong tradition for his family. “That was what we did for vacation. We came to Cocoa Beach and watched the early launches,” he said. Cranis estimated the economic impact of large launches like Artemis II at tens of millions of dollars, citing increased spending at local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Byrd said he hopes to continue attending future launches. “I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s great for our country. I think it’s great for morale,” he said. The Artemis II mission is scheduled to return to Earth in late 2026, with future launches expected to draw similar crowds.