Artemis I: Disappointment for crowds that flocked to Florida for Moon launch

According to Ms Happel and her colleagues at the tourism office, the Artemis programme’s prestigious Moon launches are an economic boon for the Space Coast.

It is estimated that a family of three visiting the area on vacation will spend an average of $1,300 (£1,112) over the course of three to four days.

One local businessperson benefiting from the planned launch today is Brenda Mulberry, who owns a space memorabilia shop on the main road leading towards the Kennedy Space Center.

Ms Mulberry’s store, “Space Shirts”, produces the Artemis t-shirts she sells — 1,000 were made this Saturday alone.

The last few days, she told AFP, have seen a veritable slew of customers. She added: “They’re just excited, I think, to see a NASA launch because the private space business is not so motivating to people.”

NASA’s SLS, she explained, feels like it “belongs to the people” in a way that SpaceX rockets just do not. She added: “It’s their rocket.”

READ MORE: NASA Moon launch LIVE: Artemis take-off may be DELAYED

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1661837/disappointment-artemis-i-crowds-flock-florida-see-moon-launch-once-in-a-lifetime-experienc