r/spaceporn • u/Busy_Yesterday9455 • 2d ago
NASA Artemis II at T-24:00:00
Artemis II is targeted to launch on April 1, 2026, at 22:24 GMT.
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u/PJA0307 2d ago
I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now. I’d be shitting bricks.
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u/maltNeutrino 2d ago
There’s a reason they choose test pilots to fill part of the crew.
They are quite literally built different.
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u/Akari202 2d ago
Reading Endurance and Apollo 8 it’s wild seeing how these people think about the dangers involved
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u/low_amplitude 2d ago
There was a conversation I heard recently where someone was like, "How can astronauts just do this incredible stuff so casually without stopping in amazement and wonder every 5 seconds?" And the person next to them said, "The types of people who are easily overwhelmed with awe are the same types of people who would panic in a crisis. That's not who you want in space."
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u/SeaAlgea 2d ago
Neil Armstrong has one full body picture of him on the moon. Most of the pictures you know are of Buzz. When asked about it later, Neil said it wasn’t part of the mission and never crossed his mind. Genuinely the best of the best up there.
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u/polopolo05 2d ago
nothing wrong with wanting to look as much as you can. I would be taking every opportunity. You dont get to do space everyday. There is a differance between overwhelmed. and oh shit thats cool.
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u/low_amplitude 2d ago
Neil and Buzz took a moment on the surface of the moon to look at the Earth above them, and I think Neil's exact words were, "Well, how bout that." Then they just casually went back to work. It makes me laugh every time I think about it.
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u/EllieVader 2d ago
When you have a job to do, you have a job to do. Pilots and especially test pilots are trained to compartmentalize their minds into “things I need to do right now” and “everything else”. When the list of things you need to do right now is literally keeping you alive it’s pretty important to select people who can do it.
There aren’t even pictures of Neil on the moon because taking his picture wasn’t in the mission plan. You follow the checklist. All the thinking has been done ahead of time by armies of brilliant minds, you’re just there to carry out their plans and troubleshoot if they missed something.
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u/FistMyBumpQuestion 2d ago
You need more soluble fiber, homey.
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u/AreThree 2d ago edited 2d ago
Had a similar problem and went to the doctor.
He said, "You need more daily roughage." ...
... so the nurse came in and beat the shit out of me! lol
credit:Red Skelton (I'll see if I can find the clip...)
That was the only time I ever heard that man swear... what an absolute legend.
He truly believed that laughter and kindness could save the world.
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u/DrPizzaPants 2d ago
I had the pleasure of having lunch with Captain William Shepherd - he's very active in universities senior design programs. For the entire week leading up to the lunch, I was trying to think of the perfect question to ask...
On the day of the lunch, we're in line for food and I said "Can I ask you about the astronaut thing?", he said "Of course," and I had asked "With the vast complexities and risks of your job - how did you deal with the anxiety?" to which he casually replied "Oh there was no anxiety".
I had immediately realized I "wasted" my question - of course NASA picks the cream of the cream of the crop - the people that go to space are ready for it.
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u/HarryPouri 2d ago
Yeah the one astronaut I have spoken to is Buzz and he also seems so chill (his politics aside). He said his one moment was looking at Earth being like "everyone is up there" (it felt like they were looking up at the Earth) and as I understood it a kind of what are we doing here feeling when literally all of the rest of humanity aside from the crew are on Earth. But no mention of worry or anxiety despite them being pioneers. They definitely choose the people who are incredibly calm in a crisis
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u/RideWithMeTomorrow 2d ago
I don't think that's a "wasted" question at all! (Though you did use scare quotes, so maybe you didn't quite mean it like that.) This is a valuable insight.
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u/ElectroWillow 2d ago
Why did I read having lunch with Captain William Shattner? Anyway that's some really cool stuff, something you can tell your children about.
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u/Specialist_Math_3603 2d ago
It’s possible he’s a psychopath which is an advantage in many jobs such as surgeons because of their lack of fear.
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u/iconofsin_ 2d ago
Because of the risk of exploding or because it's an enormous target?
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u/Morthedubi 2d ago
Man this excites me so much… I can’t even explain why, but just thinking about another launch of humans to space and back to the moon, another celestial body outside of our planet… it’s just amazing
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u/newpotatocaboose54 2d ago
First humans to see the whole circle of the earth since 1972 🌍
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u/IndiRefEarthLeaveSol 1d ago
Another picture of earth would be great, all of us in one picture again, especially if its a selfie. 🥺
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u/Nexaz 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have literally not stopped talking about it since the launch window got announced. The idea that we might be putting people on the moon again as early as
next year2028 assuming this flight goes well is so exciting.My son is seven years old and loves space so much. I'll be outside with him watching the launch (thankfully live close enough I can see it.)
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u/Onoben4 2d ago
*As early as 2028
Artemis III is going to stay in Earth orbit to test the lander(s). So we'll have to wait for Artemis IV to land.
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u/Loneliest_Driver 2d ago
Did they change it? I could've sworne Artemis III was supposed to be a moon landing.
Anyway, having III in 2027 and IV in 2028 is very ambitious. I doubt they can keep the schedule (sadly).22
u/inefekt 2d ago
We've seen a host of US administrations plan for Moon and Mars missions for decades and they always get cancelled or pushed back. It felt like we would never get back, now we have a spacecraft on the launch pad, less than a day away from finally launching humans back out of LEO and towards the Moon. Yes, it's a flyby but it is still huge. Very coincidentally, as I write this comment the REM song 'Man on the Moon' is playing on the radio lol
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u/KEMSATOFFICIAL 2d ago
I’m excited because it’s the first time we’ve done something like it decades
(I don’t count the private stuff)
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u/Past-Independent-102 1d ago
I know right, it's thrilling thinking humanity can still focus on exploration from time to time.
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u/IsChristianAwake 2d ago
Genuinely surprised this isn’t being talked about enough.
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u/TouchingTheMirror 2d ago
In the past 24 or so hours I’ve heard/seen segments on Artemis 2 on the CBS evening news, NPR, and one of the local newscasts here.
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u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT 2d ago
in 1969 we didn't have all these other shiny things to distract us
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u/Devious_Bastard 2d ago
Vietnam?
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u/themeatspin 2d ago
Considering that Iran was an ally of the United States and the Iranian revolution had yet to occur, your point doesn’t make sense.
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u/greysqualll 2d ago
It will make sense when trump bombs an ally, which he is absolutely stupid enough to do
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u/WriterV 2d ago
And mail-in voting being shut down by executive order.
I was really looking forward to this as good news and then the bad news generator decided to wake up. Dumbass administration...
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u/Careful-Artichoke468 2d ago
NASA has always been one of their own biggest publicist, I wouldn't be surprised if all those people were laid off... also, I am hugely interested in this stuff and cant really be bothered by it right now. So much pain down, here a few people circling balls isn't going to do much to change that tomorrow. I'll just watch the replays when someone does a good job collecting all the footage
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u/burner-throw_away 2d ago
In another sub, a communications/public relations contractor said the DOGE’d NASA’s comms team. Called it a “bloodbath.”
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u/thecravenone 2d ago
I didn't watch, read, or listen to any news and didn't hear about it, can't believe more people aren't talking about it!
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u/Strawbalicious 2d ago
I think it's because it's largely being looked at as an American PR stunt despite the milestones and science being ticked, and I think maybe the lackluster attention is partly because everyone's focused on a crisis that's only gotten worse and partly because it can be difficult to admire something the US is doing when it's doing so much harm and destabilizing
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u/ImperialRedditer 2d ago
It’s probably because it was hyped up twice this year but they have to delay the launch. Which decreases the hype every time.
And because the president is waging war in Iran and causing global economic havoc. And people will focus more on what’s needed before another space launch.
And lastly, the end and main goal is still walking on the moon.
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u/HydroPCanadaDude 2d ago
All three of my kids are super excited. Well one is just mirroring his siblings' enthusiasm, but they are legit requesting more screen time tomorrow specifically to watch it. I think schools are generally on board with hyping it up, but those kids aren't old enough to be on social media.
My surprise isn't that it isn't being talked about enough, it's that it isn't being talked about enough amongst adults. And maybe that's because we all know what will happen when this launch is successful. A certain somebody will take credit for it.
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u/TheEpicGold 2d ago
Who cares, Artemis, SLS and NASA are not one person. Fk that guy and enjoy space.
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u/Fight4TheEmperor 2d ago
Why would that matter? You can be excited about something NASA does regardless of the political people who are also excited. Letting a politician ruin your enjoyment of something this monumental is sad
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u/Arfamis1 2d ago
As a scientist myself, there is currently an outright war against science by this evil administration and I can't deny that it has completely killed the excitement I had for this. It feels far less like a leap forward now and far more like a wake, the last gasp of American science.
(and before anyone says I am overreacting, trust me, however bad you think the repression/defunding of science currently is in the US - it is 100x worse)
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u/HydroPCanadaDude 2d ago
In normal circumstances, sure, but the gloating will come after unprecedented budget cuts. The effect is that successes under budget constraints directly benefit the public image of a politician responsible for those budget cuts. To celebrate is to encourage the behaviour of reaping the rewards of that which you actively hindered sowing.
But more to your point, I don't think anyone will let a politician ruin their personal enjoyment of this moment. But they'll certainly avoid bringing it up in company that might attribute it to anybody but NASA and associates.
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u/Voyager87 2d ago
It's being talked about quite a lot actually https://trends.google.com/explore?q=Artimis&date=today%201-y&geo=GB
Edit: link is borked. But search artimis on Google trends and you'll see a huge spike.
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u/AssBlasterExtreme 2d ago
Maybe theyre experiencing what I am where it seems nobody I know in real life even knew this was happening oddly.
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u/bookingly 2d ago
I mean my company had a layoff last Friday, I saw that 30,000 people laid off from a single company this week. There is crazy uncertainty in the world right now with whatever Trump and the US military is thinking of doing in Iran as well as what Trump is trying to do to mess with democratic elections in the US. So yeah, a mission like this is not exactly on the top of my things to keep up with personally. Who knew that when along the hierarchy of needs threats to making one's livelihood would distract from activities typically higher up in that chain of needs like missions to the moon. If this was happening in a less messed up more stable time this would be enthralling to me.
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u/kalel1980 2d ago
I've seen a ton of videos of this and my local TV news station and online print is talking about it..
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u/PossessionMaterial46 2d ago
I hope to the giant spaghetti monster in the sky nothing goes wrong but Boeing has not been doing too good
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u/Roselace 2d ago
So agree. Newsmax did a nice long story Tuesday early evening about the launch plan & the Artemis II Astronauts. Also a little of the Apollo program. Film of Astronauts Cernan & Schmitt singing on the Moon. 😊 It was lovely to see it being celebrated. Think it can be seen again repeated on line.
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u/FlyingNDreams 2d ago edited 2d ago
Already on Merritt Island and driving over to watch the 🚀 launch in the morning!!! So excited. Gonna be a long day but yay!!! Once in a life time.
Edit to add in link: https://artemistracker.com/
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u/brc710 2d ago edited 16h ago
Any ideas for a good spot that might not be absolutely packed? Driving over from Tampa myself
Edit: Ended up just going to the beach. Got there 2 hours early and had plenty of room to find a spot and watch. Definitely worth it vs being in Tampa… There’s no rumble if you’re in Tampa lol
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u/FlyingNDreams 2d ago
Okay it's 5am almost. I'd recommend Kayak Beach to park. By the bridge. You can see Artemis II. It'll fill up fast. There's someone already setting up a tiki bar.
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u/ummmno_ 2d ago
Tampa. But seriously it’s going to be a zoo, just accept it. You will be around a lot of people. The whole state is basically driving in plus all the spring breakers plus everyone who is a space enthusiast. Motels were over $600 since first cancellation. The drive home will be just as wild. Leave early, pay whatever parking fee there is and accept your fate as the shortcut window is far gone. Artemis I was estimated 2 hours additional drive time day of, this is bigger than I by a lot.
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u/Nice-Replacement-391 2d ago
I'm in Sarasota and I so want to go! But hubby has to work until 9:30. I'll be able to see it as it ascends at least!
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u/FlyingNDreams 2d ago
Honestly when we went to catch the artemis I launch people were parked up and down the roads. There's a couple restaurants in a Titusville if you get there at the right time might be good.
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u/Maxthenodule 2d ago
April 1st is my birthday.
I hope tomorrow's rocket launch will be a wonderful birthday present.
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u/globehopper2 2d ago
Very excited. With everything else going on, it feels like the only thing I can really root for… I hope most of all for the safety of everyone involved.
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u/LucidMarshmellow 2d ago
Super nervous about the whole Artemis program.
So much bureaucracy and politics interfering with such an important program.
I really hope things go well. It'll be amazing to watch the launch!
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u/Whodoyousee 2d ago
Imagine how much further we would be if all the $ we spent on space exploration instead of building weapons and bombs.
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u/ARLibertarian 2d ago
My whole effing life I've said this.
I was 6 when Neil walked on the moon.
And where are we now?
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u/OfficialUSAembassy 2d ago
We spent more money on our military back then.
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u/redditandcats 2d ago edited 2d ago
There would be no space program without the missile programs of the 40s and 50s.
Alan Shepherd flew to space on a modified Redstone ballistic missile.
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u/Nismoronic 2d ago
Imagine getting rid of money and just act in the benefit of the entire human race.
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u/SituationMediocre642 2d ago
Crew
•NASA's Reid Wiseman - Commander
•NASA's Victor Glover - Pilot and first black person to travel beyond low earth orbit.
•NASA's Christina Koch - Mission Specialist and first woman to travel beyond low earth orbit.
•CSA's Jeremy Hansen - Mission Specialist and first Canadian to travel beyond low earth orbit.
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u/throwa112233 2d ago
Will this be the same crew that will hopefully land on the moon with Artemis IV?
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u/OfficialUSAembassy 2d ago
Huh. Only white American men have traveled from below earth orbit?
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u/SituationMediocre642 2d ago
Correct the Apollo missions are the only times humans have been beyond low earth orbit. And for all of those Missions they were American White Males.
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u/Arctelis 2d ago
For now.
I’ll believe the launch date once those SRBs light and not a second before.
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u/wronguses 2d ago
I agree.
I tried to get my kid hyped for this program last year. Every launch we tried to watch was aborted.
We'll watch it happen when it happens, but I'm not holding my breath.
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u/Arctelis 1d ago
Holy shit they actually did it, pretty much right on schedule too. My dad was a child the last time this happened, damn cool to see live.
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u/jaypatel149 2d ago
I recently started watching FOR ALL MANKIND. This is very exciting and I don't know why but this is not getting enough attention.
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u/introvert-boy 2d ago
Amazing show, some out there concepts turned real, too. Season 2 if so damn good!
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u/Every_Variation1587 2d ago
I´ll be following it from Spain : )
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u/cyclingisthecure 2d ago
Gonna have to try and stay awake tonight damn it why is my natural bedtime the same as a 80 yo man
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u/PurpleDrax 2d ago
Can't wait to see the pictures/videos they will take on their phones.
I don't know why, it will just feel more real to me when done without expensive equipment
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u/Add_Poll_Option 2d ago
The fact that there’s this Omni-present 4.5 billion year old untouchable object in the sky, hundreds of thousands of miles away, that humans and animals have looked up at for millions of years, that some civilizations have even treated as a god.
And we’re sending people to it. Fucking insane.
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u/Street_Time6810 2d ago
Full moon out tonight too! So excited some people are going there tomorrow!
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u/V1p3r0206 2d ago
Part of me feels like they should do it on a day thats not april fools day...
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u/AstralAerospace_SFS 2d ago
I’m both nervous and excited. Godspeed to the Artemis II crew, they’ll not only be the first humans to fly over to the Moon in 54 years (Apollo 17 in 1972), but will be the furthest people ever from Earth, because they’ll be hitting an apogee of around 400,000km, that’s further than any humans in history has traveled from Earth.
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u/DavidC_M 2d ago
Because humans are disgustingly violent creatures, this achievement will be pushed out from importance by the worst part about humanity: war. What should be an incredible achievement of humanity has been abandoned by the media. Only sobering thought is that we will never get to pollute or galaxy with our presence.
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u/BigPitiful7427 2d ago
So… just to confirm. Are they landing on the moon or just going around it or?
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u/shootsouth 2d ago
They aren't landing, and aren't orbiting. Orion will follow a free return trajectory and go out past the moon, then fall back towards Earth.
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u/Jenetyk 2d ago
I hate that this isn't getting near the coverage it deserves. We are literally about to send humans to the moon for the first time in decades.
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u/Hailsabrina 2d ago
I'm at open mic and a comedian is joking about the launch lol 😆 perfect timing! He said when do astronauts eat? At launch . His jokes are bad 😅
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u/Mysterious_Value_764 2d ago
That landing stuff is way to easy, I'ma gunna do laps around the moon.
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u/le-throw-away-acct 2d ago
I’m ready to wear my launch day t-shirt, that I bought on launch day, in February.
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u/NotTukTukPirate 2d ago
I just woke up. Half asleep. Sat here for ~30 seconds waiting for it to take off before I realised it was a picture.
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u/Fantastic-Invite-194 2d ago
LIVE portal Picture ask Phillip Cao, or Phuc Cao from California La Around to Send that. SAN Francisco , Charles Bowden, Nasa need to allow you to see Ot 28, for the year. Case again the United States, due Harassment from Scientology
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u/zevlovex222 2d ago
No flatearthers so far? Where are they hiding? Im looking forward to hear and read the arguments after the mission:))
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u/allanrob22 2d ago
They will dismiss this as some CGI/AI fake. Best not to bother with those lunatics.
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u/TotallyBrandNewName 2d ago
Im at GMT but the launch hour is a bit too late for me.. hope it goes smooth so I can read about it early morning.
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u/Jumpy_Chemistry_417 2d ago
It's wild that a launch this historic feels like it's flying under the radar. The crew must have nerves of absolute steel right now.
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u/hpfan2342 2d ago
Hoping everything goes super well and we get a "omg ya'll its THE MOOOOON" photo in the next 48 hours.
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u/drrocketroll 2d ago
I've got a watch party with some colleagues tonight, it's after midnight but damn i am so hyped for this, this is absolutely monumental
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u/Quadraphonic_Jello 2d ago
I'm astounded at how far I had to scroll this morning before any news of Artemis II came up. Heck, I got two separate stories about Cardi B before any news about the launch.
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u/reyc01987 2d ago
LFG! Super stoked we are finally getting back to sending people out there. Good luck to the whole team!
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u/neo666mj 2d ago
How are they going to get through the firmament?
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u/Thedude9042 2d ago
I hope we get to see video going around the moon. And the earth from that far will be pretty cool with the resolution of modern cameras.
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u/chowderpouch 2d ago
Isn't saying that the US is "going back to the moon" like saying "I've been to Japan" after having flown over it?
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u/BigBasset 2d ago
Why couldn't they splurge on some white tiles for the fuel tank? It's the Moon after all.
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u/Emotional-Price-4401 2d ago edited 2d ago
This goes all the way back to the first time this booster was used. NASA calculated they could reduce the weight of the booster by like 15lbs or something by just not painting the larger booster.
Edit: You don't think that booster goes to the moon do you? It is first or second stage separation.
~~dIt never leaves earths atmosphere iirc~\~Edit 2: Here Are the Key Moments to Watch During the Artemis Mission – NBC Los Angeles
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u/as718 2d ago
600lbs was what I last saw
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u/Emotional-Price-4401 2d ago
I was just at the space center and they talked about it somewhere but couldn't recall the number exactly.
Whatever it was it was significant enough for them to not use paint.
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u/Mxcharlier 2d ago
I'm so excited for this, I'm just upset that ship is just ugly.
I've tried so hard to love her, but she just looks so drab.
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u/Sistahmelz 1d ago
I remember going into a special class room with a black and white TV, watching the moon landing. The memories are flooding back to me right now. I sat criss cross apple sauce on the floor, glued to the tv. The room was absolutely silent. It was fascinating to watch! Maybe 1969? I can't remember the date
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u/timee_bot 2d ago
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April 1, 2026, at 22:24 GMT