Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Artemis II Launch

The countdown clock is officially rolling at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where four astronauts are preparing to take off on the mission of a lifetime -- circumnavigating the moon and returning humans to deep space for the first time in five decades.

Posted by REDIAL at 05:58 PM | 18 COMMENTS | permalink

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Artemis II is GO for launch, 6:24pm eastern, live stream HERE:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf_U...[image or embed]

" Christopher Mims (@mims.bsky.social) Apr 1, 2026 at 5:21 PM

Comments

imo, this is a key event for NASA.

After leading the Country into space decades ago (and, yes, I remember when, e.g., the NBC network preempted all programming to broadcast for hours minute-by-minute details of the first lunar landing), NASA now has to show that it remains relevant in the world of capitalistic commercialism of space.


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-31 09:49 PM

"going from zero to 500 miles per hour (about 805 kilometers per hour) in just two seconds"

That will only happen in an emergency situation, where something goes wrong with the launch and the capsule needs to be separated quickly from the rocket. An acceleration that fast will likely cause the astronauts to black out and possibly injure them. In a normal launch it will be much slower.

Very poor journalism.

#2 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-03-31 10:01 PM

this is a key event for NASA.

It is. Still a long way to go land on the moon though. And a fixed deadline to get it done.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-03-31 10:21 PM

@#2 ... That will only happen in an emergency situation ...

Agreed.

Other Facilities Testing (2024)
Launch Abort Motor Testing
www.nasa.gov

... The 17-foot-long, three-foot-diameter abort motor has a manifold with four exhaust nozzles and provides thrust to quickly pull the crew module to safety if problems develop during launch.

The high-impulse motor is designed to burn most of the propellant within the first three seconds and burns three times faster than a typical motor of this size to immediately deliver the thrust needed to pull the crew module to safety.

If needed during a launch mishap, the crew module would accelerate from zero to 400-500 mph in two seconds. The motor was built by Northrop Grumman and tested at its facilities in Promontory, Utah. ...


#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-31 10:21 PM

imo, this is a key event for NASA.

Ummmmm not a hard call to make considering it's the second SLS launch (after much delay) and the first manned mission to leave LEO and go to the moon in what, 54 years?

Add to it they're live streaming the entire thing, so a less than successful launch is, at best, egg all over their face with a launch day scrub or, at worst, a catastrophic failure Challenger-level tragedy on even greater display.

All this with s*&^head, anti-science Republicans who would love nothing better than to cut NASA funding watching who would jump at the opportunity and have their fat, worthless faces before the cameras before the debris even hit the water.

#5 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-01 02:00 AM

ery poor journalism.

#2 | Posted by sentinel

That's science "journalism" in general. It's been that way for about 20 years.

#6 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-01 02:02 AM

I hate to ask this question, because I'm 100% positive that all four crew members are completely qualified for this mission and got to where they are based on their skills, knowledge and determination, but looking at the photo of the crew, how is it that the far Right media, to say nothing of MAGA in general and certain individuals close to Trump, if not Trump himself, are not suggesting that the make-up of this crew was the result of DEI polices at NASA?

I'm just asking...

OCU

#7 | Posted by OCUser at 2026-04-01 06:16 PM

Gonna go outside and watch this from the yard.

#8 | Posted by rcade at 2026-04-01 06:21 PM

#8

I've been over there a couple of times, it's an impressive facility. Darn near got lost in the uh, 'coastal plains' north of there, though.

Saw a NASA spokesperson say that this flight is like the Apollo 10 rehearsal flight , no landing, but they did most of the dangerous stuff first, though Apollo 11 got all the Press, and rightly so.

So, no 'boots on the ground', but still cool.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2026-04-01 06:35 PM

I'm frankly shocked that Donald Trump is letting this rocket go to the moon without putting his name on it.

#10 | Posted by Zed at 2026-04-01 06:51 PM

I'm frankly shocked that Donald Trump is letting this rocket go to the moon without putting his name on it.

#10 | Posted by Zed

Trump hates it because it reminds him of the inadequacies of his own "rocket"

#11 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2026-04-01 06:58 PM

You people... made me visualized Trump as Elton John singing, "Rocket Man"!

And I'm not alone:

https://www.tiktok.com/@yassinandseanterrio/video/7371834948963093766

#12 | Posted by Corky at 2026-04-01 07:06 PM

never mind

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2026-04-01 07:07 PM

The launch was AWESOME!!!!

We'll be able to watch 24/7 in full HD. The picture from 1500 miles behind the moon with the earth in view will be awe inspiring.

#14 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-04-01 08:35 PM

All this with s*&^head, anti-science Republicans who would love nothing better than to cut NASA funding watching who would jump at the opportunity and have their fat, worthless faces before the cameras before the debris even hit the water.

#5 | Posted by jpw

nothing tells us what a fat effing imbecile you are as much as this...

and that bar is very high...but not surprising on a place that has sunk so low

that one of the long time legends of posting is no longer welcome but low life

punx like you still roam.

#15 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-04-01 08:54 PM

Flat Earthers, line up for your PEDO DONNIE Kool-aid. One gallon to a customer.

#16 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-04-01 08:57 PM

Gonna go outside and watch this from the yard.

#8 | Posted by rcade a

bucket list from as far back as elementary school....maybe I"ll get there for one of the

coming liftoffs..

The launch was AWESOME!!!!

We'll be able to watch 24/7 in full HD. The picture from 1500 miles behind the moon with the earth in view will be awe inspiring.

#14 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY

DITTO

imo, this is a key event for NASA.

#1 | Posted by LampLighte

BIG TIME SO...

.I remember the tv brought in and we watched the launch up.....and then the splashdown....all during the same class....or close to it....and Cronkite...." an American
has now been in space."

#17 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-04-01 09:01 PM

one of the long time legends of posting

Tater?

#18 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 09:06 PM

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