After Artemis II launch, ENC students look to future in space exploration – WCTI

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by Donnie Cox & Ciara Blosser
After NASA’s Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, students in eastern North Carolina are turning their attention to the future, inspired by the milestone moment in space exploration.
At the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation in Havelock, that inspiration is already taking shape as students participate in hands-on STEM activities designed to mirror real-world aerospace challenges.
Inside the program, students spent time building and testing model rockets, learning through experimentation and problem-solving.
Artemis II marks NASA’s first crewed mission to travel around the moon in more than 50 years, a step aimed at paving the way for future lunar landings and eventual missions to Mars.
For students involved in the program, leaders say the launch is more than just a headline — it’s a teaching tool.
“We stress to them, you can do anything you put your mind to and you can make mistakes,” said Tom Braaten with the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation. “You build up, you learn, you practice, you fail, you learn and you keep going like that. It’s just an exciting step-by-step process.”
Educators say programs like this are designed to move beyond textbooks, giving students opportunities to think like engineers, collaborate as teams and work through challenges similar to those faced in the aerospace industry.
From building rockets to learning about space travel, students are gaining early exposure to STEM careers they may one day pursue.
Mentors say events like the Artemis II launch help connect classroom concepts to real-world achievements, turning curiosity into confidence.
As students watched the mission unfold, many said they were eager to follow every step, recognizing they were witnessing history.
Program leaders say that sense of connection is key — showing students that STEM fields are not only accessible, but also essential to shaping the future.
With hands-on learning and real-world inspiration, educators say these students could one day play a role in the next generation of space exploration.
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