‘Strange moment’: Mount Greenwood family celebrates Artemis 1 launch after son dies, NASA visit

CHICAGO – NASA engineers and scientists celebrate the launch of the Artemis 1 rocket on Wednesday.

One of Chicago’s own was there to celebrate the launch after several delays stretching back to August.

Anthony and his two brothers were with them on the trip, with their mother, Cathy Gaskin, keeping a close eye.

“It was something really special,” Kathy said. “A strange moment.”

Kathy’s son, Anthony, died of a brain tumor, DIPG for short. Anthony was a space buff and loved all things NASA.

A few years ago, before his death, she posted a video on social media about her son’s love of space. NASA invited the Gaskin family to their home in Alabama.

NASA treated the family to a VIP tour and gave Anthony a special souvenir. They even had all her sons sign a rocket, where they stayed all these years.

The Gaskins hosted a launch party at their Mount Greenwood home on Wednesday.

“To watch this morning with Luke and Dan,” said Katie, “watching the three of them go into space together was something really special. An amazing moment.”

A rocket with test dummies on board would help NASA eventually reach the moon and lay the groundwork for deep space exploration.

Kathy said she is always grateful for the experience and help in spreading the word about DIPG.

“I’m so proud of Anthony and I’m so proud of Luke and Danny,” she said. “And at the same time, I wish things were different. That he was here with us and that his name in memory did not go into space, that he was here and that cancer did not take him away from us. So today I just feel like I’m in a mix of emotions, sadness.”

After the death of her son, Cathy, family and friends formed Anthony’s Avengers to raise awareness for a cure for DIPG brain tumors.