Long Island residents cheer on Baldwin astronaut in NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission

Long Island residents are celebrating a Baldwin native’s participation in the recent Nasa SpaceX Crew-7 mission.

Jasmin Moghbeli was one of the four crew members that blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida toward the International Space Station early Saturday morning.

Long Island residents say they couldn’t be prouder of their hometown space star. Back on earth at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City, many came to see a replay of the launch on a jumbo screen and view a special exhibit about Moghbeli.

“A woman from Baldwin is in space right now. That’s pretty incredible. It’s a big accomplishment,” said Woodmere resident Matthew Alovis.“I think she’s awesome and her accomplishments are out of this world,” said Sheree Collis, of Glen Cove.

The mission marks Moghbeli’s first trip into space. The marine helicopter pilot and 40-year-old mother says it was a dream come true because she always knew she wanted to be an astronaut.

“I think as a kid I believed I could do anything,” she said.

From humble beginnings at Lenox Elementary School and Baldwin Middle and High schools, Moghbeli went to astronaut camp as a teenager and got a degree in aerospace engineering at the Manhattan Institute of Technology.

She visited the Cradle of Aviation Museum on class trips when she was a child. News 12 is told she found inspiration there while viewing the exhibits honoring 12 astronauts from Long Island who have rocketed into space.

Moghbeli is the only American aboard the SpaceX Crew-7 flight and is the commander of the mission.

“She said this was one of the things that helped inspire her to look into becoming and astronaut. Most kids say, ‘I want to be an astronaut,’ and don’t follow through. Well, she did,” said Cradle of Aviation Museum President Andrew Parton.

Moghbeli’s portrait will soon be added to the gallery of space luminaries at the museum. This will provide inspiration for future generations hoping to reach their space dreams.

“It’s very cool. It proves that no matter your gender you can do anything you want,” said Isaac Coston, of Glen Cove.