Spectators were awestruck as they gathered in Westport to watch an historic NASA launch.

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon on Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than 50 years.

It wasn't an average school night for Joey Zager. He even built his own rocket for the occasion.

"Just being able to watch this was so amazing," Zager says. "NASA or any other space agency has not done a crew lunar flyby in over 50 years!" 

People of all ages gathered to watch the launch at the Westport Observatory. 

"It's amazing how everything comes together to make it go like that," Abbey Dillon says. "You think about everything that's gone on, and the years behind it... To watch people's dreams come true like that is amazing."

Dan Wright, of the Westport Astronomical Society, says he's hoping the launch gets more people interested in science.

"Science is something that touches everybody, whether you know it or not," Wright says. "Whether it's your cellphone bouncing off satellites up in space or your TV where you're getting more satellites... Science is what makes things go.

The Artemis II crew consisted of three Americans and one Canadian.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.