NASA’s Artemis 2 moon launch seen from space
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GOES-19 satellite view of the Artemis 2 launch into space on April 1. | Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES-19
Humanity is on its way back to the Moon as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) detonates the space agency’s Orion space capsule on April 1. The launch was even captured from space!
What is this?
This photo shows NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft lifting off from historic Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT (22:35 GMT) on Wednesday, April 1.
The launch is represented by a plume of white smoke seen by the GOES-19 weather satellite.
Why is this amazing?
The Artemis 2 mission represents the first time humans have visited the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Additionally, during this mission, the four-person crew of Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover will travel further into space than any other humans before them.
From left to right: Artemis 2 astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover. | Credit: NASA/John Kraus
The Artemis 2 mission is expected to last approximately 10 days. Although the crew will not set foot on the lunar surface during this mission, it sets the stage for the future of the Artemis program, particularly Artemis 4 and 5, which will finally return humans to the lunar surface after more than half a century.
Follow our Artemis 2 Mission Live Updates Page for the latest developments.
