How NASA's 'America 250' celebrations are reaching from the sky to the moon

NASA is taking the "America 250" birthday celebration to new heights. The agency has big plans for July 4 — the 250th anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence — which involves both aircraft and spacecraft. "From the earliest days of exploration, to the first steps on the moon and the missions shaping our future, NASA represents the spirit of discovery that defines our nation," the agency wrote on a webpage marking the milestone anniversary. A special patch worn by the Artemis 2 astronauts honors America’s 250th anniversary. The theme of NASA’s celebration is "Rocket’s Red Glare," a famous lyric in "The Star-Spangled Banner." (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) The party was already underway in April, when the Artemis 2 mission circled the moon. The four Artemis 2 astronauts — three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency — sported "America 250" patches among their gear. The patch shows NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launching into the black, near a "250" surrounded by stars. Around the edges of the patch are the words "NASA: The rocket's red glare," alluding to the U.S. national anthem. Another version of the America 250 emblem, prominently featuring the numbers in red and blue, also was mounted on each of the solid rocket boosters of Artemis 2's SLS. There's a lot more planned in the coming weeks to ramp up to Independence Day and beyond. …