For the first time since 1972, human beings will visit the moon. Well, visit near the moon, because this Artemis II mission, set to launch today during a window starting at 6:24 pm Eastern time, is just one that will go around the moon without landing, making it the fourth time such a trip has happened. It’s preceded by Apollo 8, a test run that went into lunar orbit, then Apollo 10, a full “dress rehearsal” around the moon before the first landing with Apollo 11, and then Apollo 13, which famously had a near-disaster and wasn’t able to land, but looped around the moon.
Even if we’ve sort of done this before, it’s significant how we’re doing it again. For one thing, this is an all-new spacecraft, Orion, which will carry four astronauts instead of three, and the first woman to go on such a mission. Also, the space toilet on Orion is vastly better than the awful stick-on-your-butt bags of the Apollo missions, and the Orion capsules can be re-used.
The Artemis II mission will also be the furthest from Earth that human beings have ever traveled, with its trajectory set to take this quartet of astronauts 250,000 to 252,800 miles away from home, beating the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles.
And, more importantly, this mission inaugurates what I hope will be a return to regular human space exploration beyond Earth orbit.
Orion is a very different spacecraft than Apollo, full of new technologies, and represents a new generation of spacecraft capable of going beyond the Earth. I’m very curious to hear about how it performs.
The Artemis program has had its share of delays and setbacks; some argue that the SLS (Space Launch System) launch vehicle was hamstrung because of the demands that it re-purpose Shuttle Program components, but the end result is a rocket that is the most powerful ever human-rated launch vehicle, making 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, which is almost a million more than what the legendary Saturn V moon rocket made in the Apollo era.
NASA has some live feeds available to watch the launch, which I recommend you do! Here, I’ll embed the feed for you, make it nice and easy:
Look, I know many of us have some pretty conflicted and complicated feelings about our country, the world, hell, humanity in general. I feel it, too. But despite it all, despite the inanity and stupidity and callowness and cruelty and madness we are confronted with every day, humans are still, deep down, absolutely incredible.
People, people like you and I, have given the world stunning works of art and pieces of music that fill us with emotion, movies we can’t forget, sandwiches we still reminisce about, inside jokes that make us crack up in the middle of a shower, cars that we love, kisses and adventures and novels and desserts and conversations and days in the mountains and held hands and spit takes and slaps and looking at stars and on and on and on.
And some of these people are smart. So smart that they got together and built a fucking rocket to go to the moon, just because something deep inside us pushes us to do these kinds of crazy things, to learn and discover and wonder and learn some more.
So, yeah, I’m fucking excited we’re going back to the moon. I don’t care if you think SpaceX could have done it better or that there are other problems in the world, because of course there are. Today, I don’t care about the idiots in power or their bad ideas, or all of the shitty things they’re doing, because some other people are going to try to go to the moon today.
Godspeed.
“inside jokes that make us crack up in the middle of a shower”
While eating shower spaghetti!
“There’s someone in my head but it’s not me
And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon”
TO THE FUCKING MOON!
While I love space, at this moment I don’t really understand manned spaceflight anymore. Spend the money on more advanced robotics and use the saved money to improve earth first. There is nothing to see or do on the moon nor on mars, not with the machinery we have right now.
If only these idiot politicians could be half as smart and brave as the Artemis crew. Science for the win!!
I sure hope it goes alright. It’s a shame the politicians got to deem how the SLS was built, as it’s more of a jobs program than a space program. It’s certainly not the most efficient way to do things, but it should work!
I’m right around 10 miles from the pad, even got the wife to take meetings from the car, sometimes a 60min drive needs to be done for science!!!
Wow… preach brother Torch, PREACH!!
I so hope this goes well, the planet could use a good reminder right about now of what we’re capable of when we all work together.
Been watching NASA TV all day, don’t tell the boss. Watched the four being strapped, I think that at this moment they must be among the bravest people on Earth, as well as the most anxious. God Speed.
My thoughts can be perfectly summed up by the lyrics to Canned Heat’s “Poor Moon”, but I’m not here to harsh on anyone’s buzz if they’re into this.
In space, no one can hear you scream.
Or ask about the files.
I hope it goes well but I can’t stand a certain someone taking credit for it. And you know he will.
Unless something goes wrong. Then he’ll throw somebody under the bus. But still claim it was a perfect mission.
Look, everybody knows this: Artemis II was a huge success. Tremendous. Maybe the most successful space mission ever—people are saying that. Very smart people.
Before me? Space was a mess. Total mess. Rockets late, plans weak—sad! I came in, said “We’re going to win in space,” and suddenly—boom—record success.
Other countries watched and said, “Wow.” They didn’t think it was possible. But when you have strong leadership—this is what happens.
Artemis II was great because I knew how to make space great again.
You forgot the ALL-CAPS and the spelling mistakes. Otherwise, spot-on!
I’ve had an awful lot of awe throughout my life that we once did and will again put people on the moon. And as I’ve gotten older I’m more and more assured that there is no way in hell I would volunteer for this. Like it’s terrifying just to think of being in that little capsule while the Earth shrinks away and all the ways this could go wrong and how few options there would be if it did. No freakin’ WAY, man.
I can’t even process the feeling of exhiliration the men must of had who stood on another world, but unquestionably these people have balls that I can’t even comprehend, and I include the woman in that. They’re just different than us.
But just think: the papers would want to know whose shirt you wear!
We’re whalers on the moon,
We carry a harpoon,
For they ain’t no whales
So we tell tall tales
And sing our whaling tune.
The Moon Shall Rise Again
Gol-durn it, Crushinator, JUMP!
I am also excited with the potential of today’s launch. I have been a NASA fan since I was a young kid as my dad was stationed at Edwards during the Space Shuttle testing and first few launches. While Artemis is overpriced, not reusable, and all the things it has going against it, it still makes that young kid inside happy to see NASA launching something themselves.
My robot army has been instructed to stay in the tunnels and resist waving as they go by.
No mention of the Ford Orion?
(Which was developed under the codename “Apollo“)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Orion
Or the Buick Apollo?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Apollo
(Developed by significantly less intelligent people than those at NASA)
I’m still surprised at Jared Issacman getting the administrator job, he actually seems very competent. Canceled the stupid Lunar Gateway and pivoted to something more practical, has questioned SLSes future, etc etc. I’ve seen a lot of talk from people I trust of a reinvigoration at NASA about their work. I hope to see it continue.
Bang Zoom, to the Moon!
The cynic in me says this is a big April Fools joke.
Otherwise, I am stoked we’re dreaming big dreams again.
I’m excited too! It’s awesome! One day I hope to watch one of these take off in person!
Let’s do this! I’m psyched!
I will be very surprised if it launches today. They skipped testing the last repair because they were worried it would leak again. That’s like not test driving your car after a repair because you’re worried it will break down, and then just driving off to work the next morning.
Congress designed the SLS. I just hope nobody dies.
I… Isn’t that what everyone does? Is it just me?
I really hope this goes well. The world needs good news. Just one piece of good news. I know nothing is ever certain in launching a tube full of hundreds of thousands of pounds of stuff that really wants to react extremely energetically, but if this just works, I’ll be just a little happier.
Daughter’s on her way to try to see it in person – a car full of aerospace engineering nerds is probably stuck in traffic between Daytona and Kennedy right now…
Very excited, i’ve booked a conference room at work to have it up on the big screen! i turn into a 8 year old kid every time i think about launching people into space!
That last paragraph was very well said, Amen brother!