Florida Tech students are transforming Artemis II's planned April 2025 launch into a full Space Coast experience through a series of events planned across Brevard County. The university announced Wednesday that over 200 students will participate in launch-day activities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. The events include live viewing parties, educational workshops, and a student-led panel discussion on lunar exploration.
The university partnered with the Brevard County Public Schools system to host a pre-launch symposium at Florida Tech’s campus in Melbourne. The event, scheduled for March 28, will feature NASA engineers and local aerospace firms. “This is about connecting students to the real-world impact of space missions,” said Dr. Maria Hernandez, Florida Tech’s director of STEM outreach.
Student organizers are also coordinating a bus trip to the Space Coast’s Launch Complex 39A on April 20, the day of the Artemis II liftoff. The trip, open to all Florida Tech students, will include guided tours of the launch site and a meet-and-greet with mission control personnel. “We want students to see the full journey from classroom to launchpad,” said junior aerospace engineering major Jake Thompson, who is leading the event planning.
The university’s Space Systems Engineering program has been working with NASA since 2021 on simulations for the Artemis missions. Students contributed to software testing for the Orion capsule’s navigation systems, according to program director Dr. Raj Patel. “This launch isn’t just a milestone for NASA—it’s a chance for our students to show what they’ve learned,” he said.
Events will also include a public viewing area at Florida Tech’s Melbourne campus, with live feeds from the Kennedy Space Center’s viewing stands. The university expects over 500 attendees for the campus events, including local families and K-12 students.