What happened: The Washington Nationals marked Independence Day with a patriotic salute, closing with 'liberty and justice for all.' The club welcomed the Artemis II crew to the ballpark, where the four astronauts delivered ceremonial first pitches ahead of the holiday game.

Why it matters: The Artemis II crew is slated to fly NASA's first crewed mission around the Moon in more than five decades, making the Fourth of July appearance a high-profile piece of ceremony on the national holiday. For the Nationals, the NASA tie-in headlined the franchise's Independence Day festivities in the nation's capital.

What to watch: The Nationals continue their holiday slate Saturday in Washington, with the Artemis II crew's lunar flyby mission the next milestone to watch on the NASA calendar.