NASA Artemis Moon Rocket Launches From Florida
NASA successfully launched the Artemis I rocket, its most powerful ever, on its third attempt from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Wednesday, November 16.
The launch is part of a plan to eventually return humans to the moon. NASA aims to send astronauts back to the lunar surface by 2025, more than 50 years after the last mission.
The initial Artemis I launch failed in August due to technical problem, while a second attempt in September was thwarted by a fuel leak. A third planned attempt later the same month was delayed due to Hurricane Ian.
The mission involves using the huge rocket to send an unmanned capsule, Orion, to loop behind the moon. Credit: NASA via Storyful
Video Transcript
- 15, 10. GLS is go for core stage engine start.
- Five engines on the core stage, and two solid rocket boosters now propelling the vehicle at 128 miles per hour. [INAUDIBLE] good control on the role from teams in Mission Control, Houston. All good calls so far. Now 30 seconds into the flight, Artermis 1.
First milestone will be for the vehicle to pass the Max Q in about 1 minute and 9 seconds into launch. This is the greatest period of atmosphere [INAUDIBLE]. NASA Artermis 1 now traveling 607 miles per hour.
You're looking at 8.8 million pounds of maximum thrust acquired here. [INAUDIBLE] Mission Control. Full course agents are throttling down, [INAUDIBLE] and passing through Max Q.
Now 1 minute, 21 seconds into the flight, traveling at 1,420 miles per hour. The four core stage engines are back at maximum thrust. The next major milestone will be for the solid rocket boosters to cut off and jettison at about 2 minutes and 11 seconds into the flight, so about 30 seconds from now.
Again, quiet here in Mission Control, Houston as teams continue monitoring the flight of Artemis 1. We're now 16 miles downrange from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, traveling over 2,800 miles per hour. Standing by for solid rocket booster jettison, and shortly thereafter.
Confirmation that the solid rocket boosters have separated these 177-foot boosters. Now the core stage continues to power the flight of Orion. All four RS25 engines firing, traveling over 3,400 miles per hour, 46 miles downrange. 2 minutes and 36 seconds into the flight. Hearing nominal calls here in Mission Control, Houston.
