Florida Gators Rout Stetson as Artemis II Launch Captivates
The Artemis II rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center interrupted a college softball game in DeLand, Florida, on April 1, 2026, drawing players' attention skyward. Florida Gators utility player Madison Walker pointed upward while Stetson University freshman Gaby Bauer stood at home plate as the spacecraft lifted off just before 7 p.m. local time.
The game at Patricia Wilson Field, about an hour's drive from the launch site, saw both teams pause briefly before resuming play. NASA's Artemis II mission marks the first crewed U.S. lunar voyage in more than 50 years, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency. The crew plans to orbit the moon, passing 4,000 miles beyond before returning after about 10 days.
No. 7 seed Florida defeated in-state rival Stetson 8-2, extending a winning streak to 14 straight games against the Hatters dating to 2006.
The mission originates from Launch Pad 39-B, the same site used for Apollo moon landings.
