Celebrations at NASA for the successful launch of Artemis 1: Orion capsule in orbit (video)

A new page has turned today for NASA after the successful (finally) liftoff of the Artemis 1 mission to the Moon, 50 years after the end of the historic “Apollo” program.

With a deafening roar, NASA’s giant new SLS (Space Launch System) rocket – the world’s most powerful – lifted off today from Florida, bound for the Moon, for the first unmanned Artemis mission.

We are going.

For the first time, the @NASA_SLS rocket and @NASA_Orion fly together. #Artemis I begin a new chapter in human lunar exploration. pic.twitter.com/vmC64Qgft9

— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022

About two hours after liftoff, the Orion capsule entered orbit.

The capsule will reach the Moon in a few days. There it will be put into a distant orbit for about a week and will move as far as 40,000 miles (64,000 km) behind the Moon.

The @NASA_SLS rocket has reached main engine cutoff, or MECO, in the mission timeline. The RS-25 engines have powered off and the core stage has separated. @NASA_Orion is now in orbit. pic.twitter.com/OlnxhFAlET

— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022

Finally the Orion capsule will begin its return to Earth, putting its heat shield, the largest ever built, to the test. As it passes through the atmosphere, it will have to withstand a temperature reaching half that of the sun’s surface.

Docking in the Pacific Ocean is scheduled for December 11.

Orion has separated from ICPS, and has begun its days long coast towards lunar rendezvous. pic.twitter.com/orktPfpnE7

— Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) November 16, 2022

The final order for the launch was given by NASA’s first female launch director, Charlie Buckwell-Thompson. “We were all part of something incredibly special, the first liftoff of Artemis,” she said after the launch to her teams. “What you accomplished today will inspire generations to come,” he added.

“And #Artemis Generation, this is for you.” Artemis I has a GO for launch to the Moon. T-0 time for liftoff is now set for 1:47am ET (0647 UTC). pic.twitter.com/MBV8tv6VHN

— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022

The Artemis 1 mission is set to last a total of 25 days and may encounter problems in various phases, but the first liftoff of this giant 98-meter-tall rocket, which took more than a decade to develop, now represents a major success for NASA .

Tuesday and lucky

This was the mission’s third launch attempt, after two were aborted at the last minute in the summer due to technical problems, while two cyclones also delayed liftoff for weeks.

Again, liftoff was delayed by about 40 minutes due to a hydrogen leak that was eventually repaired during operations to fill the rocket’s cryogenic fuel tanks.

Despite the fact that the launch took place during the night (at 01:47 Florida time) about 100,000 people gathered at the Kennedy Space Center to admire the spectacle, especially from the surrounding beaches.

In 2024, the Artemis 2 mission will take astronauts to the Moon, but still won’t land there. The landing honor will belong to the Artemis 3 crew and will take place in 2025 at the earliest.

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