8-26-2023 8:53am

A native of Long Island is getting ready to embark on a space adventure, as they prepare to launch aboard a SpaceX rocket

Samantha Hespos Editor

Baldwin, NY

Jasmin Moghbeli, a Long Island native, is eagerly anticipating the launch she's been preparing for.

She expressed her excitement, saying, "I still wake up every morning, and it still feels like a 'pinch me' moment to think I'm actually an astronaut right now." It's incredible to see her journey come to fruition.

Journeying from her modest start at Lenox Elementary School and her education at Baldwin Middle and High Schools on Long Island, Lieutenant Colonel Jasmin Moghbeli has ascended to the role of commander for the Space Crew 7 mission, set to voyage to the International Space Station. It's a testament to her remarkable progress and accomplishments.

The planned launch, initially scheduled for Thursday, encountered a last-minute delay and has been rescheduled for early Saturday morning.

In this mission, Lt. Moghbeli stands as the crew's leader and the sole female member, realizing her lifelong aspiration of venturing into the cosmos. It's a significant achievement and an inspiring moment.

Watching her reach for the stars from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, there couldn't be a more fitting audience than her first-grade and reading elementary school teachers, along with Baldwin Schools Superintendent Dr. Shari Camhi.

Dr. Shari Camhi expressed her emotions, stating, "So proud, excited, hopeful. She spent a lot of time with our elementary students and our high school students." It's heartwarming to see the impact Lt. Moghbeli has had on her community.

During her tour of Lenox Elementary School in March, AbC 7 inquired, "How does it feel to be back in these halls?" Lt. Moghbeli responded, "It feels incredible. Much of it feels unchanged and very familiar." It must have been a nostalgic and heartwarming experience for her.

The journey was a chance for her to reconnect with her origins and inspire students to share in her earliest passion—science.

Fifth-grader Mia Jones has created a painting that is anticipated to accompany Moghbeli during her space mission.

In her hometown of Baldwin, even individuals who don't know her personally are feeling a sense of pride in Moghbeli's remarkable accomplishment.

"Incredible," remarked Tom Hessel of Freeport.

"I want her to understand that her entire community is standing behind her," shared Alma Kari Kari-Yawson of Baldwin.

Lt. Moghbeli mentioned that she will be conducting science experiments on both objects and her own body to observe how humans respond in the space environment.

Her crew is set to carry out nearly 200 of these experiments throughout the next six months.

Additionally, during her time in space, she intends to engage in a live chat with hundreds of students. It's an exciting opportunity to inspire and educate the next generation!