NASA’s Artemis II mission launched from the Florida coast, carrying its four crew members on their landmark voyage to orbit the Moon.
A profound rumble accompanied a sudden, brilliant white flame that momentarily engulfed the launch pad as NASA’s most powerful rocket ascended into the sky.
The Space Launch System (SLS) majestically rose, initially slow, then accelerating, propelled by two blinding pillars of flame that crackled and roared with increasing intensity until the rumbling became almost deafening, a sound felt in our bodies as we watched in awe from three miles (4.8km) away.
Quiet cheers arose from those in the know as the rocket passed the point of maximum dynamic pressure, occurring one minute and ten seconds into the launch. This is where the rocket faces the greatest stress, and engineers are aware that even a minor structural weakness could prove catastrophic.
With no sign of weakness, SLS arced over the Atlantic like a fiery white angel, leaving a smoky trail as the sound diminished and the spacecraft disappeared from view, shrinking to a single bright star on its lunar trajectory.
A palpable sense of euphoria subsequently swept through the Kennedy Space Center staff.
One individual expressed feeling deeply moved, while another admitted wanting to cry – undoubtedly a release of tension accumulated over recent months as Artemis II approached launch, only to be scrubbed for various reasons.
However, tonight, NASA employees were celebrating with laughter and applause – this is the moment they have dedicated years to achieving. While work remains, they are presently basking in the triumph.
In the hour preceding liftoff, issues arose that threatened to delay the launch.
These concerned the launch abort system, designed to eject the astronauts and destroy the rocket in the event of a malfunction.
The countdown clock was paused at 10 minutes while engineers worked to resolve the problem. Their response was swift, but the wait to determine whether the launch could proceed was agonizing.
Then followed the staccato rhythm of confirmations from engineers responsible for the rocket’s critical systems: “booster, go”, “GNC, go”, “range, go” – each response a small release of tension and a growing sense of anticipation.
“Artemis II, this is launch director,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the first woman to hold the position at NASA.
“You are go for launch,” she told the crew. “We go for all humanity,” Commander Reid Wiseman responded.
Though potentially trite under normal circumstances, those words ignited a thrill and signaled that we were about to witness history.
The Kennedy Space Center was built to facilitate crewed missions to the Moon, a capability dormant since Apollo 17’s departure in 1972. Today, the center was again operational, fulfilling its intended purpose.
The press corps moved outside, where clouds that had threatened cancellation had dissipated.
As the countdown clock resumed, the atmosphere became charged with electric anticipation.
The four RS-25 engines and twin solid rocket boosters ignited, unleashing over 8.8 million pounds of thrust into the Florida evening sky.
“God Speed Artemis II,” Blackwell-Thompson declared, echoing a phrase from the past. These same words were spoken during a 1962 launch to send John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, on his journey.
I have been fortunate enough to witness Space Shuttle launches to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center. Those launches are undeniably impressive, surging into space with a tremendous bang and ascending at remarkable speed.
But the SLS launch was not only more visually stunning; it was profoundly significant: a moment filled with emotion for all who witnessed it, perhaps because it reminded us of humanity’s potential when united, or perhaps because we are entering a new era of space exploration.
In the 1990s, I had the opportunity to speak with Neil Armstrong, who, in 1969, became the first person to walk on the Moon.
Our discussion occurred at a time when the dream of human space travel appeared to be fading. I asked him what had become of that dream. He smiled and said, “The reality may have faded, but the dream is still there, and it will return in time.”
Today, that dream was reignited.
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Science editor Rebecca Morelle watched from just three miles away as the most powerful rocket ever built blasted off from Florida.