Go For Launch: Artemis II Moon Shot Launch

Supposedly in six minutes. They're in the final checklist. Everything is a go so far.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 06:18 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good luck to all.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:18 PM (q177U)

2 Firsts!

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:18 PM (vFG9F)

3 futz

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (vFG9F)

4 I guess I'm kind of an asshole chauvinist, I don't like all the chicks on the NASA comms.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (q177U)

5 Nasa live stream

Launch clock on hold at 10 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/live/m3kR2KK8TEs

Posted by: BifBewalski

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (QVmho)

6 I could have been first but I was launching my rocket.

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (vFG9F)

7 Amazing how nobody really seems to care.

Posted by: Erik L at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (xofyr)

8 Launch director performing final verification to come out of the 10 minute hold.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 01, 2026 06:20 PM (O7YUW)

9 God speed Artemis.

Posted by: WisRich at April 01, 2026 06:20 PM (mMoRd)

10 Go for launch!!!!

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:20 PM (bNf8H)

11 >>>Amazing how nobody really seems to care.
Posted by: Erik L at April 01, 2026 06:19 PM (xofyr)

I'm STARTING to care. Getting excited finally.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:21 PM (q177U)

12 Stop the speeches and light the candle!

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:21 PM (bNf8H)

13 The feed I've been watching is stuck on T -10:00, but it does not say "Hold".

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:21 PM (vbXSk)

14 nuf speechifyin'. Light this candle.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at April 01, 2026 06:21 PM (w/O5Q)

15 That's no moon.

Posted by: Obi Wan Baloney at April 01, 2026 06:21 PM (JkO4W)

16 This magic day when super-science
Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (nDXEV)

17 Stop talking over the actual NASA personnel you stupid talking head.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (O7YUW)

18 How many G's are they going to pull, morons?

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (q177U)

19 Artemis II will loop around the moon, but not land on it.

Why are we doing something we accomplished in the 1960's many times before ????

Posted by: Ferd Berfall at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (38587)

20 Ads on YouTube really suck.

Posted by: Accomack at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (T8bqm)

21 What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (El6/E)

22 I'm gonna have to start dinner soon. Poor timing on NASA's part.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (ExV1e)

23 >>How many G's are they going to pull, morons?
Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (q177U)
__
I heard 10 on re-entry.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (bNf8H)

24 This magic day when super-science
Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (nDXEV)

That song is some of Peart's best lyrics.

Posted by: Mark1971 at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (CNl8/)

25 Ads on YouTube really suck.
Posted by: Accomack

Brave Browser with Ad Block Plus, amigo.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (diia5)

26 Good luck to NASA.

Is it wrong that I expect something horrific to happen?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (zZu0s)

27 This would be the perfect moment for a mystery drone swarm.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (q177U)

28 This launch will only make Iran stronger.

Posted by: The Financial Times Theater Kids at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (1wjle)

29 DEI Apollo 8

Posted by: brak at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (7cwQo)

30 Rickl would have loved this. </3

Posted by: Oedipus at April 01, 2026 06:23 PM (Z6vKV)

31 Ads on YouTube really suck.
Posted by: Accomack at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (T8bqm)

Assuming you're watching in a browser, switch to Brave and have no more ads.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 01, 2026 06:24 PM (ExV1e)

32 I'm old enough to remember when everyone would watch a launch. I thought we would be way beyond this by now. My chance of going to a moonbase are zippitydoda at this rate.

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:24 PM (vFG9F)

33 They are doing a "short purge" and then will continue with terminal count. in about a minute I guess. No idea what they are purging, "just wrapping up some final work". yeah, OK.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:24 PM (vbXSk)

34 23 >>How many G's are they going to pull, morons?
Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (q177U)

I do not know but probably more E's and F's then G's ...

Posted by: Ferd Berfall at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (38587)

35 I think Andy Weir's middle novel was called Artemis.

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (Fi81e)

36
Go/no-go was Go. Clock hasn't started yet. T-10 is terminal count. Automated system takes over when the start.

They can stop it if they have to, but it's harder to restart, they have to cycle back to T - 10M, I think, and can only do that so many times.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (w6EFb)

37 I remember staying home sick in junior high to watch our first space shuttle launch.

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (IlL6s)

38 >>What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.
__
Because in Artemis IV we're going to land at the southern equator of the moon - a much more difficult and unforgiving place than the sea of tranquility, with different hardware and an objective to set the stage for a permanent presence, not a "plant flag and footsteps" mission.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (bNf8H)

39
Watch the nasa live stream, no one overtalks their feed. Clock just restarted

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (QVmho)

40 Pretty cool shit to see this in a new generation.

Just remember, 10 days, 600,000 miles relying on equipment provided by the lowest bidder. Godspeed.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (m5cxz)

41 How many G's are they going to pull, morons? >>>>

20, same as in town.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (n5tGW)

42 What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (El6/E)

All new hardware, designed and built by people who - mostly - hadn't been born the last time we landed on the moon, and using a system which has had numerous time and cost overruns.

Plus, historic firsts, man.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (ExV1e)

43 "This is one small step for Male, female, non-binary, transgender, genderfluid, agender, bigender, genderqueer, two-spirit, demigender, pangender, gender non-conforming persons and one giant leap for Male, female, non-binary, transgender, genderfluid, agender, bigender, genderqueer, two-spirit, demigender, pangender, gender non-conforming person kind."

Rolls off the tongue.one more time...

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (Sco7b)

44 Countdown resumed.

Posted by: WisRich at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (mMoRd)

45
Clock has started.

Scroll down here for T- 10 terminal countdown events:

https://is.gd/g3Qi4M

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (w6EFb)

46 I hope that, if something bad has to happen during this flight, it's that all of the rockets fail to ignite. That would keep the crew safe.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (S/Y4j)

47 Wait, Wait! I forgot my hearing aids!

Posted by: Eromero at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (LHPAg)

48 What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (El6/E)
---
Have we landed??

Have we??!

Have we??!

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:27 PM (Fi81e)

49 Wants to thanx Presdent Obana foor making this happin.

Thank You and we loves you...

Posted by: Mary Cloggistein from Brattleboro, Vt at April 01, 2026 06:27 PM (dNEfJ)

50
I am praying that I'm grossly incorrect in my assumption that the rocket kills the crew.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:28 PM (QVmho)

51 >> How many G's are they going to pull, morons?

3 - 4g.

Alan Shepard and the Mercury boys laugh. They pulled 7g during launch, and hit 11g during re-entry. They had the Right Stuff.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:28 PM (w6EFb)

52 The objective is to put a woman on the moon. Preferably black, possibly lesbian too. Beyond that I don't expect much until the government gets out of it.

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:28 PM (vFG9F)

53 What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (El6/E)

lots of processes developed back then are lost or are incompatible with modern tech. Have to be done over.

Blame the Democrats for aborting the Space Program in the 80s.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:28 PM (8avO+)

54 19 Artemis II will loop around the moon, but not land on it.

Why are we doing something we accomplished in the 1960's many times before ????
Posted by: Ferd Berfall at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (38587)

Because this is step 1 on going to Mars.

This is also the first time in decades that NASA hasn't been virtue signaling instead of exploring space.

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper at April 01, 2026 06:28 PM (k1E2D)

55 this launch has more time outs than an NBA fourth quarter

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2026 06:29 PM (1wjle)

56 I hope that, if something bad has to happen during this flight, it's that all of the rockets fail to ignite. That would keep the crew safe.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 01, 2026 06:26 PM (S/Y4j)

Our first space casualties was when the oxygen rich atmosphere in the capsule and a spark incinerated the crew of Apollo 1 on the pad.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:29 PM (8avO+)

57 >>> Ads on YouTube really suck.
Posted by: Accomack at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (T8bqm)

No youtube ads with Brave browser.

Posted by: banana Dream - Look at the plumage! at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (3uBP9)

58 Because in Artemis IV we're going to land at the southern equator of the moon - a much more difficult and unforgiving place than the sea of tranquility, with different hardware and an objective to set the stage for a permanent presence, not a "plant flag and footsteps" mission.

And that requires merely orbiting why, exactly?

Plus, historic firsts, man.

This strikes me as the real reason. Get them up there safely and back home, so we can brag about DEI

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (El6/E)

59 I'm on NASA's youtube channel, but I don't see any countdown.

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (qBdHI)

60
Listen to the call outs for pressurization, internal power switchover, and ignition sequence start.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (w6EFb)

61 We sit in a pinnacle of rock... and no bird to sing.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (nDXEV)

62 I took do not have much faith in the FrankenRocket.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (/lPRQ)

63 If successful, they will be the farthest from Earth as any other human being. Going to learn something. I love it.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (vV6n9)

64 It's like watching dachshund puppies race.

tasty, delicious dachshund puppies

Posted by: The Reptilians at April 01, 2026 06:30 PM (w/O5Q)

65 NASA feed is better, not watching the garbage that is CBS

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (REq0p)

66 lots of processes developed back then are lost or are incompatible with modern tech. Have to be done over.

That's like arguing we can't race in NASCAR because we have EFI instead of a carburetor. Better go back to driving around on roads a while first!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (El6/E)

67 >>And that requires merely orbiting why, exactly?
__
Because they want to see if the untested shit works before trying to land.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (bNf8H)

68 Well, this will be interesting....

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (AkEZC)

69 CNN reporter to kid at NASA launch site: "Why do you want to be here?"

Kid to CNN reporter: "We're going back to the f*cking moon, that's why!"

http://tiny.cc/rx71101

Posted by: bonhomme at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (mkw2N)

70 Awesome

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (tcsrY)

71 >>What I cannot figure out is why we are back to orbiting the moon after having successfully landed on it several times already? This is like going back to creeping around the shores of an ocean after discovering America.
__
Because in Artemis IV we're going to land at the southern equator of the moon - a much more difficult and unforgiving place than the sea of tranquility, with different hardware and an objective to set the stage for a permanent presence, not a "plant flag and footsteps" mission.
Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:25 PM (bNf8H)

Southern Equator?

We landed at least once in or near a highlands on the first moon shots.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (8avO+)

72
59 I'm on NASA's youtube channel, but I don't see any countdown.

Posted by: Lady in Black

See my post at #5 for that link

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (QVmho)

73 >>>This is also the first time in decades that NASA hasn't been virtue signaling instead of exploring space.

It's been "historic first" non stop

Posted by: brak at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (7cwQo)

74 Why are we going back?
Something to do about China I heard.

Posted by: Case at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (pvf3X)

75 T-4

Posted by: Dr. T at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (lHPJf)

76 Incredibly, I heard some TV news readers yesterday and early today call the spacecraft "OH-ree-on."

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (5rh/l)

77
Call out for LES only. If they abort now, they'll have to fire the escape tower (this would be only if the rocket started to explode or something).

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (w6EFb)

78 Artemis schmartemis.

NASA SCHMASA.

Posted by: eleven at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (aTgV0)

79 lots of processes developed back then are lost or are incompatible with modern tech. Have to be done over.

That's like arguing we can't race in NASCAR because we have EFI instead of a carburetor. Better go back to driving around on roads a while first!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:31 PM (El6/E)

Orbiting the moon is "driving on roads a while"

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (8avO+)

80 Thanks, Bif!

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (qBdHI)

81 Taking me back to the Saturn V days ...

Posted by: mrp at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (rj6Yv)

82 This launch must halt now because it will dump filthy Rocket Exhaust in the atmosphere and accelerate.....

"GLOBAL WARMING" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ferd Berfall at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (38587)

83 Artemis II will loop around the moon, but not land on it.
Why are we doing something we accomplished in the 1960's many times before ????
Posted by: Ferd Berfall at April 01, 2026 06:22 PM (38587)

They have to re-learn all the skills acquired by all those brave men 70 plus years ago. Many honed in war as fighter pilots or otherwise.

Hopefully they will but I have my doubts. Too many variables and DEI politics.

Posted by: The Right Stuff at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (AknkO)

84 i added the nasa feed, thanks

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (1wjle)

85 Orange rocket. Orange president. Coincidence?

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (viF8m)

86 >> "OH-ree-on."

Brett Baier did that yesterday. I was disappoint.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (w6EFb)

87 Effing ads

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (tcsrY)

88 No kings!!

....

Well, it felt relevant....

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (Fi81e)

89 "less than two minutes"

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (1wjle)

90 35 I think Andy Weir's middle novel was called Artemis.
Posted by: Axeman

It's the one that people haven't read. Well, that people called "gKWVE" haven't read...
I understand it's a different formula than "The Martian". "Hail Mary" (which I did read) is a return to that "Martian" form, of one guy alone making quips.
"Artemis" is about a woman who is on the Moon for the tourist industry.

Posted by: gKWVE at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (gKWVE)

91 Am I the only one surprised ace did not follow up the pinball ref with something like 'We are about to schlong the sky.' Or something.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (zZu0s)

92
Gimbal test -- I always love that.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (w6EFb)

93 Orbiting the moon is "driving on roads a while"

...which was my entire point.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (El6/E)

94 "one of them built from shuttle parts" ...oh great, they are being thrifty, using used parts.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (vbXSk)

95 Why are we doing something we accomplished in the 1960's many times before ????

-
Good lord! This doesn't mean disco is coming back, does it?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (ndZc7)

96 https://www.rocketlaunch.live/

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (5xuJ/)

97 Streaming Tousi on uTube

Posted by: Accomack at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (/Chlc)

98 Heh, Three leftover used shuttle engines and one built from spare parts...

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (/lPRQ)

99 Incredibly, I heard some TV news readers yesterday and early today call the spacecraft "OH-ree-on."
Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:32 PM (5rh/l)

Reeding iz hard

Posted by: Dr. T at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (lHPJf)

100 The CBC has no talking heads
Sweet.

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (Sco7b)

101 One minute

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (FOlVe)

102 Awesome shots testing the hydraulics on the nozzles

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (IlL6s)

103 Judge Boassaberg just ruled that Donald Trump's Artemis rocket may not launch.

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (vFG9F)

104

Gimbal test -- I always love that.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley

Totally cool looking.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (QVmho)

105 74 Why are we going back?

----------

Gene Cernan thinks he left his phone.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (JkO4W)

106 And so the countdown begins.

Posted by: guy who always thinks the countown is beginning at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (1wjle)

107
1 minute, here we go.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (w6EFb)

108 1 minute!

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (q177U)

109 here we go!

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:35 PM (REq0p)

110 "one of them built from shuttle parts" ...oh great, they are being thrifty, using used parts.
Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:34 PM (vbXSk)

'Pre-owned.'

Like a new girlfriend.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:35 PM (zZu0s)

111 We don't need no steenkin adblock plus with Brave.

Posted by: eleven at April 01, 2026 06:35 PM (aTgV0)

112 Here we go

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 01, 2026 06:35 PM (A5RD0)

113 Am I the only one surprised ace did not follow up the pinball ref with something like 'We are about to schlong the sky.' Or something.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:33 PM (zZu0s)
---
It would just reference Kurt Vonnegut's "The Space Fuck" short story.

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:35 PM (Fi81e)

114 Nice camera work, NASA.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (bNf8H)

115 We're blowing our load!

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (q177U)

116 Wheee

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (tcsrY)

117 those rockets sound like me after Chinese, if you know what I mean

Posted by: Your Uncle Dale at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (1wjle)

118 We're blowing our load!
Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (q177U)

116 Wheee
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (tcsrY)

Fuck. I love this place.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (zZu0s)

119 Wheee!

Posted by: Dr. T at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (lHPJf)

120 Past MaxQ.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 01, 2026 06:37 PM (IG3/x)

121 NASA can learn alot from SpaceX regarding broadcasts. I like to see the altitude, speed, Gs, etc. at the bottom of the screen.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at April 01, 2026 06:37 PM (bNf8H)

122 Good booster separation

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:37 PM (QVmho)

123 Gary 7 has been thwarted.

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (Sco7b)

124 Butterflies in my stomach. Fingers crossed.

Posted by: Tuna at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (lJ0H4)

125 i always think "performance nominal" means something's wrong

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (1wjle)

126 those rockets sound like me after Chinese, if you know what I mean
Posted by: Your Uncle Dale at April 01, 2026 06:36 PM (1wjle)
---
Why are you after the Chinese?

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (Fi81e)

127 How fast is it going??

Posted by: dantesed at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (Oy/m2)

128 I'd like them to have a clue what to put the camera on. The audience watching the launch is NOT what I want to see.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (O7YUW)

129

They're going to try a live camera feed from the spacecraft. Note I said try. This won't be SpaceX quality.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (w6EFb)

130
those rockets sound like me after Chinese, if you know what I mean
Posted by: Your Uncle Dale
---
Why are you after the Chinese?
Posted by: Axeman

No yellow!
-Hunter

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (QVmho)

131 Y'all tell me if they make it.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (4NO2D)

132 So exciting!

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (A5RD0)

133 You know, having a woman scream 'WHEEE' at just the right moment would be kind of awesome.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (zZu0s)

134 Gary 7 has been thwarted.

Does that mean we get Teri Garr back?

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (+9wcF)

135 Someone at Fox News cannot make up their mind about the camera choices.

Posted by: Dr. T at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (lHPJf)

136 sweating out here

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (diia5)

137 I once worked as a painter on new houses. One day the GC (generall contractor) kept going to the window, opening it, and yelling "Green side up boys, green side up."

He did this every 10 or 15 minutes, and then would go back to the jobs he was working on - cabinet installation, the boiler, etc.

Finally I asked him what the hell he was doing -- he said " I got the first female / black / gay / canadian crew outside installing sod."

I imagine there is another channel not made public today with some Mission Commander saying "Remember guys, don't touch anything."

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (Fg7bI)

138 Pretty gripping stuff

Posted by: turambar at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (Q0yOR)

139 Rockets' red glare!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (ndZc7)

140 I hope they remembered to bring a ballpoint pen.

Posted by: fd at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (vFG9F)

141 5,000 mph.......so this thing is a lot slower than the space shuttle speeds after launch?

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (IlL6s)

142 Go for throttle up.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (4NO2D)

143 Anyone else hearing Apollo 13 music?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (zZu0s)

144 This is so cool

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis-ii/arow/

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (REq0p)

145
How fast is it going??
Posted by: dantesed

2600mph was the last I heard. Probably faster by now, though.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (QVmho)

146 134 Gary 7 has been thwarted.

Does that mean we get Teri Garr back?
Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (+9wcF)

Have her shaved, washed and sent to my room.

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (Sco7b)

147 I haven't been paying attention - will we fet to the Moon faster than back in the Apollo days?

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (tcsrY)

148 I was singing the theme song for Enterprise, Faith of the Heart

No I am not teh ghey

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (REq0p)

149 Did he just say we're aiming at the moonrise? Poor moon...

Posted by: turambar at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (Q0yOR)

150 How fast is it going??
Posted by: dantesed at April 01, 2026 06:38 PM (Oy/m2)

orbital velocity is about 17000 miles per hour.

velocity to get to lunar orbit is more than that so will require additional burns.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (8avO+)

151 7000 miles per hour.....

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (REq0p)

152 All that terrible chemtrail! Hope you have your vinegar spray bottles ready.

Posted by: mindful webworker - spaced at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (KNEaK)

153 Another theory why its an orbit instead of a landing by comedian Dana Gould: the moon sucks

https://youtu.be/aN5NdE-aBVw

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (El6/E)

154 NASA can learn alot from SpaceX regarding broadcasts. I like to see the altitude, speed, Gs, etc. at the bottom of the screen.
-
Are those boosters going to land somewhere?

Posted by: Methos at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (vSvIl)

155 We've all been in jets and fast cars. You get a real impression of SPEED. These folks are going 5,000 mph. Even without air resistance, that must feel wild.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (vV6n9)

156 Ten thousand MPH!

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (5xuJ/)

157 They are just going to do a lap around the moon, not landing on it?

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (Ia/+0)

158 is this rocket carrying "astronauts" or actor-nauts? I hate fake moon launches, actually.

Posted by: Tucker Carlson at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (1wjle)

159 One meellion miles per hour.

Posted by: eleven at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (aTgV0)

160 10,000mph

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (IlL6s)

161 I haven't been paying attention - will we fet to the Moon faster than back in the Apollo days?
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 01, 2026 06:40 PM (tcsrY)

we are popping past a bit farther so will be a tad faster, but the speeds needed are the same each time.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (8avO+)

162 10,000 mph, apparently.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (vV6n9)

163 their altitude is 100 miles above earth, ho lee fuk

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (REq0p)

164 I have a lot of typical distrust of nasa but damn, that rocket was beautiful!

Posted by: Diogenes at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (2WIwB)

165 That was very cool.

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (qBdHI)

166 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (5rh/l)

167 Go space man... go.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (AkEZC)

168 >> Are those boosters going to land somewhere?

Yes, in the ocean, but they are completely expendable and won't be recovered unlike with the Shuttle. They will sink to the bottom.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (w6EFb)

169 their altitude is 100 miles above earth, ho lee fuk
Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (REq0p)
======

Are we there, yet?

Posted by: Gen Z Mindset at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (rj6Yv)

170 More than 15,000 MPH at this point.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (5xuJ/)

171 media did a full blackout on this, because you know, trump

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (REq0p)

172 15,000 mph now!

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (vV6n9)

173 Hopefully there won't be a solar storm. They could end up on Gilligan's planet.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (Cqx++)

174 I wonder how Nasa's going to hide all the bases on the far side of the moon?

The aliens probably have it figured out.

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:43 PM (Sco7b)

175
MECO is good

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (QVmho)

176 I occurred to me the other day that before we start colonizing the Moon, we should see what it takes to have a manned orbital platform that's beyond low earth orbit, but not quite as far as the Moon. Maybe geostationary orbit.

What would it take to support and maintain something like that?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (ESVrU)

177 Man's quest for the stars begins with the present moment, and that moment is now.

Posted by: Kamala Harris at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (1wjle)

178 their altitude is 100 miles above earth, ho lee fuk

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (REq0p)
---
Space miles.

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (Fi81e)

179 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (5rh/l)

but think of the E-bay income by chopping them up and selling them.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (8avO+)

180 They are just going to do a lap around the moon, not landing on it?
Posted by: Skip

A lap around and show us the dark side that Pink Floyd was always yammering about....seeing if it is up to the hype.

Posted by: Cheri at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (oiNtH)

181 Program has already been canceled.
They are just burning up leftover fireworks and money.

On the bright side - they'll get some data out of it still.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (/lPRQ)

182 I could give a shit about going to space. As soon as I returned to earth if I had an opportunity to get a ride on that rocket all I could do is talk shit about how fast I just went.

15,000 mph oh hell yes!!!

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (IlL6s)

183 Main sustainer separation is good

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (QVmho)

184
Fox news coverage the worst I've ever seen and I go back to Alan Shepard's first flight.

Posted by: Auspex at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (Y8DZL)

185 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?

Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (dIske)

186 To the moon Alice

To the moon

Posted by: Gonzotx at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (nGraA)

187
Core stage separation. We got a brief little video burst from a camera on top of the stage looking at the second stage pulling away.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (w6EFb)

188 I occurred to me the other day that before we start colonizing the Moon, we should see what it takes to have a manned orbital platform that's beyond low earth orbit, but not quite as far as the Moon. Maybe geostationary orbit.

What would it take to support and maintain something like that?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (ESVrU)
---
You talking about a Space Elevator? *fistbump*

Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (Fi81e)

189 180 A lap around and show us the dark side that Pink Floyd was always yammering about....seeing if it is up to the hype.

hope they remember to bring a bright spotlight

Posted by: anachronda at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (oY6Yp)

190 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref

What? You should always recycle! Even if it costs more! And pollutes more!

Posted by: the Green lobby at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (VHUov)

191 These camera operators keep missing critical moments where the audience would naturally want to be looking, like the separation from the actual moment of separation.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (O7YUW)

192 Apparently the name given to this Orion spacecraft is Integrity. Meh. No wonder NASA PAO didn't advertize it much if any pre-flight.

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (5rh/l)

193
Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref

Same as with most recycling.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (Cqx++)

194 A rocket is like an electric school bus that takes you to a school on the moon.

Posted by: Kamala Harris at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (1wjle)

195 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (dIske)
====

Star Trek is soooo much better.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (RIvkX)

196 >>>What would it take to support and maintain something like that?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (ESVrU)

20 dollars, same as in town.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (q177U)

197 I occurred to me the other day that before we start colonizing the Moon, we should see what it takes to have a manned orbital platform that's beyond low earth orbit, but not quite as far as the Moon. Maybe geostationary orbit.

We have some data on long-term low-gravity impact on humanity, but need a lot more before attempting a colony. Honestly I think a high orbit station for testing ideas, then going to mine the asteroid belt makes a lot more sense than a lunar base. Saying its so far away doesn't really matter, distance becomes kind of relative at a certain point.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (El6/E)

198 I was watching on YuuuTube and had to turn off the chat when some nob was worried about all of the birds that were going to be killed by the launch and prayed that they all got out of the way quickly.

Posted by: Cheri at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (oiNtH)

199 To the platinum credentialed Expert, such a decisive military success being presided over by consensus idiot Donald Trump is completely inconceivable; so they will carry on strutting mindlessly, like a chicken which has been relieved of its head.
-------

Why do people refuse to get that IT IS NOT THIS.

They don't think Trump is stupid. He hornswaggled them three times and they know. They threw the world and a pandemic at him and convicted him and tried to kill him and he's still there. You think they don't know what he is yet???

The Left is wrong or lying about everything. It's all they do. It's all they ever do. It has fuck all to do with fucking TRUMP!!!

Posted by: ... at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (vE0+H)

200
Funs over. Time to feed the cat, get a beer, and chill.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (QVmho)

201 In orbit. Now the hard part, how are they going to get that thing to the moon? swim?

Posted by: The Whine Guy at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (D7v4F)

202
They made orbit. Now, they're going to do an "apogee raise" some time that will place the spacecraft in a very high elliptical orbit.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (w6EFb)

203 > 185 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (dIske)

I remember it well.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (IG3/x)

204 Orion Integrity Kick

Posted by: banana Dream - The guys get shirts at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (3uBP9)

205 media did a full blackout on this, because you know, trump
Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger

Trump has a scheduled speech tonight.
Although this launch was not on the agenda I am sure it is planned whether good or bad.

For the previous moon shots the then current El Presente had two speeches planned, one each for success or failure.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (/lPRQ)

206 their altitude is 100 miles above earth, ho lee fuk

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (REq0p)
---
Space miles.
Posted by: Axeman at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (Fi81e)

Smiles

Posted by: Methos at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (vSvIl)

207 Down to Earth.

Kristi Noem Asks Husband If There's Anything He Needs To Get Off His Chest

-
From the Bee.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (ndZc7)

208 176 I occurred to me the other day that before we start colonizing the Moon, we should see what it takes to have a manned orbital platform that's beyond low earth orbit, but not quite as far as the Moon. Maybe geostationary orbit.

what we *need* to do is go to titan and get the oil.

Posted by: anachronda at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (oY6Yp)

209 I question the telemetary. It's staged. The jews are behind this, or Egypt.

Posted by: Candice Owens at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (bNf8H)

210 >>>What would it take to support and maintain something like that?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (ESVrU)

20 dollars, same as in town.
Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:45 PM (q177U)

Less than a 20-something blonde with big tits.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (zZu0s)

211 I hope we can colonize the moon soon if it means getting the F away from all these human asshos here

get off my lunar lawn

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Where Are My Keto Cheetos at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (REq0p)

212 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson

I was. Watched the moon landing with a friend at the Ohio State student union. It was a packed house.

Posted by: Tuna at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (lJ0H4)

213 185 I remember it well. Propped up on the floor with fluffy pillows and watching black and white TV with family.

Posted by: turambar at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (Q0yOR)

214 Are they playing Space Trucking by Deep Purple yet?

Posted by: dantesed at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (Oy/m2)

215 Time to feed the cat beer.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (nDXEV)

216 Not sure if this mission helps Muslims feel better about themselves (as Obammy reportedly ordered), but hopefully they succeed in reaching the moon with no DEI catastrophes.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (vbXSk)

217 Are they there yet ??

Posted by: runner at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (GD0B3)

218 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (5rh/l)

Geostationary orbit might have too much crap there now.

A middle orbit would require more fuel to hoist everything up each launch. The ideal would be to work to having the moon to earth orbit craft stay up there to avoid the huge cost of lifting them up each trip.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (8avO+)

219 >Hopefully there won't be a solar storm. They could end up on Gilligan's planet.
----

no no no
if they are hit by a solar storm, they become The Fantastic Four

Posted by: Don Black at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (ZxPkt)

220 185 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM

I missed the launch. Too young to enjoy the landing.

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (Sco7b)

221 So this thing accelerated like a large Chevy Suburban with a small block. The space shuttle accelerated like a Corvette.

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (IlL6s)

222 What would it take to support and maintain something like that?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

A really big pedestal.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (/lPRQ)

223 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson

I was. Watched the moon landing with a friend at the Ohio State student union. It was a packed house.
Posted by: Tuna at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (lJ0H4)

I was.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (8avO+)

224 Does anyone's knows if any of the astronuts are Gay or Transgindoor ???

Posted by: Mary Clogginstein from Brattleboro, Vt at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (dNEfJ)

225 I watched the Alan Shepherd launch in 1961. My Dad worked on Werner von Braun's team at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

Posted by: mrp at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (rj6Yv)

226 53 years is too long to hear "All systems are go for launch" again! G-d, I never get tired of it. Some day hope to catch a launch, for which I'd endure Florida heat and humidity. Gives me shivers down my spine. May the Almighty hold the Artemis crew safe and see them through their mission, amen!

Posted by: tankascribe at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (NtoJk)

227 I love NASA-speak
"The Captain has confirmed visual confirmation of the destination.

Posted by: Ronsonic at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (tof4A)

228 Fox news coverage the worst I've ever seen and I go back to Alan Shepard's first flight.
-
Are they showing anything other than the NASA youtube channel is?

Posted by: Methos at April 01, 2026 06:48 PM (vSvIl)

229 Sue Storm, Reed Richards, The Thing, and Flame Boy

Posted by: Don Black at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (ZxPkt)

230 218 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:42 PM (5rh/l)

Geostationary orbit might have too much crap there now.

A middle orbit would require more fuel to hoist everything up each launch. The ideal would be to work to having the moon to earth orbit craft stay up there to avoid the huge cost of lifting them up each trip.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (8avO+)

I should have said this - the boosters will splash-down in the Atlantic.

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (5rh/l)

231 Break out the moon camo tarp

Posted by: Dark side aliens at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (1LgBj)

232 I saw Armstrong step on the Moon, but honestly, I was struggling to make anything out of the staticky picture on our B&W TV.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (4NO2D)

233 175 MECO is good

geico > meco

Posted by: the cave man at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (oY6Yp)

234 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (dIske)

I remember it well.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (IG3/x)

I was in the army at the time, Signal Corp. I recorded the landing and the first walk on the moon on 2" video tape on an Ampex VR-1000 video tape recorder at the TV Division at Fort Gordon, GA. Any TV broadcast old guys will remember those Ampex machines. Yeah, I'm over 29.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (5xuJ/)

235 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson

I was - a mere tot but still remember it.

Posted by: Cheri at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (oiNtH)

236 Question -
Musk keeps talking about a mass driver on the Moon.

What is the difference between a mass driver and air defense?

Does the Moon belong to the first person to install that capability?

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (Fg7bI)

237 >>> 185 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson at April 01, 2026 06:44 PM (dIske)

=====

I was just discussing this with my older brother. He remembers, but I was only 17 months. I think I recall 17 on the tv.

Posted by: Turn 2 at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (CyFyf)

238 I really noticed how much power they needed in getting this baby in orbit. That was one big candle.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (n5tGW)

239 I am looking forward to the news tomorrow with all the experts questioning why they aren't there yet?

Sabotage?
Trump failed to plan?
Spatial cooling?

Posted by: Stateless - Day 13 of 14 or so - extreme dog care at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (Sco7b)

240 That gigantic f'ing thing was hauling ass after 8 seconds.

This never gets old.

Posted by: 13times at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (JB8gf)

241 Stupid question.

How do they avoid all the space junk and other satellites floating about?

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (A5RD0)

242 Rockets' red glare!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at April 01, 2026 06:39 PM (ndZc7)

I'm dead ya know.

Posted by: Zombie Rockets Redglare at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (AknkO)

243 I question the telemetary. It's staged. The jews are behind this, or Egypt.
Posted by: Candice Owens

Fact Check - Jews and NAZIs are behind it.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (/lPRQ)

244 232 I saw Armstrong step on the Moon, but honestly, I was struggling to make anything out of the staticky picture on our B&W TV.

i was in yerp and we didn't have a tv. i remember dad taking us over to the neighbors so we could watch apollo 8 splash down, but don't remember anything about 11.

Posted by: anachronda at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (oY6Yp)

245 We have some data on long-term low-gravity impact on humanity, but need a lot more before attempting a colony. Honestly I think a high orbit station for testing ideas, then going to mine the asteroid belt makes a lot more sense than a lunar base. Saying its so far away doesn't really matter, distance becomes kind of relative at a certain point.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (El6/E)

When Starship comes fully online, costs to orbit will drop to $100/kg. You can then do anything you want - mars, the moon, a space station, asteroids, whatever. Everything becomes possible. A single launch of starship carries half the weight of the entire ISS as cargo. It will be equal to 21 shuttle slights, at a fraction of the cost.

Posted by: The Whine Guy at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (D7v4F)

246 The Left is wrong or lying about everything. It's all they do. It's all they ever do. It has fuck all to do with fucking TRUMP!!!
Posted by: ... at April 01, 2026 06:46 PM (vE0+H)

The consistent failure to see where his strategy is going shows that they do buy into their own lies to a good extent.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (8avO+)

247 you just know a lot of lefties were rooting for disaster.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (n5tGW)

248 NASA getting very female centric.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (q177U)

249 Fact Check - Jews and NAZIs are behind it.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (/lPRQ)

Little Jewish rocket with a sawed off nose cone hustling along starboard with a little camera....

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (VR4+k)

250 Nood

Posted by: Thanatopsis at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (LdBR/)

251 That launch was pretty cool. Being a dinosaur, I was fortunate enough to witness and follow the entire Apollo era, from the initial disaster through Apollo 17. I still find travel to the moon fascinating and thrilling.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (ceJ0R)

252 Are they playing Space Trucking by Deep Purple yet?
Posted by: dantesed at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (Oy/m2)

Space Cowboy by Steve Miller Band?

Rocketman by Elton John?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (S/Y4j)

253 240 That gigantic f'ing thing was hauling ass after 8 seconds.

This never gets old.

one of the fun things about the opening to the old buck rogers tv show was watching the shuttle crawl into the sky like a saturn five; back before we knew the shuttle leaped.

Posted by: anachronda at April 01, 2026 06:51 PM (oY6Yp)

254 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?

--

I was 6 and my dad got me up from bed to stand in front of our old Zenith TV. He said it was important and I needed to see it. I didn't understand at the time, but was always grateful he did that.

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (qBdHI)

255 Commander Koenig had a problem with this, and he said so too.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (nDXEV)

256 Stupid question.

How do they avoid all the space junk and other satellites floating about?
Posted by: nurse ratched

Space is really big?

Posted by: Tuna at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (lJ0H4)

257 157 They are just going to do a lap around the moon, not landing on it?
Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2026 06:41 PM (Ia/+0)

-----

Yes, a lot like Aollo 10 did back in 1969 as a rehearsal for the actual moon landing in Apollo 11.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (20pGq)

258 Stupid question.

How do they avoid all the space junk and other satellites floating about?
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (A5RD0)

space is big and many things left up there decay and fall onto earth.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (8avO+)

259 221 So this thing accelerated like a large Chevy Suburban with a small block. The space shuttle accelerated like a Corvette.

Posted by: JROD at April 01, 2026 06:47 PM (IlL6s)

Space Shuttle launch max-gee was limited to 3.(I forget) gees. So the structures of the Orbiter and of the payloads it carried could be lighter (lower mass, in proper space-geek).

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (5rh/l)

260
Correction, they are not "in orbit" yet. I was looking at the trajectory profile. THe ICPS (second stage) won't fire for a while yet. Right now the "orbit" is highly elliptical with a perigee well inside the earth's atmosphere. If the ICPS fails to fire, they would take then back for near immediate reentry.

ICPS first firing will be a while.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (w6EFb)

261 234
I was in the army at the time, Signal Corp. I recorded the landing and the first walk on the moon on 2" video tape on an Ampex VR-1000 video tape recorder at the TV Division at Fort Gordon, GA. Any TV broadcast old guys will remember those Ampex machines. Yeah, I'm over 29.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (5xuJ/)

I was in the Air Force a few years after that, and we had VR-1200s. The VR-1200 was all solid state, I think the VR-1000 and VR-1100 had tubes. Did you go to school at Fort Monmouth?

Posted by: a.moron at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (X5Jzz)

262 Well. I’m glad they chose today as the full moon makes for a larger target, right?

Posted by: dumb blonde at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (A5RD0)

263 The consistent failure to see where his strategy is going shows that they do buy into their own lies to a good extent.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (8avO+)

They do and don't. He gives them bad choices constantly because he knows them.

Posted by: ... at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (vE0+H)

264 Watching Warsaw 44, of course it won't end well getting squashed between the Communists and the Nazis

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (Ia/+0)

265 I was too young for Apollo 11, but I remember the last couple.

God speed to these people. I pray they have a successful mission.

And, as others have said, Rickl would have loved this.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (0aYVJ)

266 Oh, well...willowed once again.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 01, 2026 06:54 PM (ceJ0R)

267 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?

------

I was away from my first year of college, sitting in front of a black and white t v to watch Neil Armstrong's first step.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 06:54 PM (20pGq)

268 232 I saw Armstrong step on the Moon, but honestly, I was struggling to make anything out of the staticky picture on our B&W TV.

Ditto. Had a hard time making out anything. I'm really excited to eventually see modern video directly from the moon. Hope the recent CME won't impact the mission. Sun's been pretty active.

Posted by: tankascribe at April 01, 2026 06:54 PM (NtoJk)

269 The most nerve-wracking, space-related viewing was the Armstrong LM landing on the moon. All you could see was a crater-filled landscape while Cronkite droning on about how landing in one of those crookedly would be a disaster.

The whole world breathed a sigh of relief when Armstrong reported "Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Posted by: mrp at April 01, 2026 06:55 PM (rj6Yv)

270 262 Well. I’m glad they chose today as the full moon makes for a larger target, right?
Posted by: dumb blonde at April 01, 2026 06:53

----

Quite right. And it's much more difficult to establish an orbit around a half moon.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 06:56 PM (20pGq)

271 Musk keeps talking about a mass driver on the Moon.

What is the difference between a mass driver and air defense?

Does the Moon belong to the first person to install that capability?
Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 01, 2026 06:49 PM (Fg7bI)

A mass driver is throwing rock. In theory an electromagnet cannon could shoot packages off the moon and they could be collected in orbit and again, reduce the cost of getting materials up into orbit for use in space.

"The High Frontier" was an interesting book in the 80s by O'Neal about setting up habitats in the earth/moon system.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:56 PM (8avO+)

272 The most nerve-wracking, space-related viewing was the Armstrong LM landing on the moon. All you could see was a crater-filled landscape while Cronkite droning on about how landing in one of those crookedly would be a disaster.

The whole world breathed a sigh of relief when Armstrong reported "Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Posted by: mrp at April 01, 2026 06:55 PM (rj6Yv)

Armstrong had to make a late adjustment to avoid hitting a rough patch that might have wrecked the lander.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:57 PM (8avO+)

273 Maybe we can finally rescue Sam Rockwell and all of this clones.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Trumpy can do magic at April 01, 2026 06:57 PM (0aYVJ)

274 I think I heard this is/was the most powerful rocket NASA has ever used ...

I'm just guessing, they do one (or more?) lap around earth before heading to the moon.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2026 06:58 PM (vbXSk)

275 I'm taking the names of of all you (us) 29-year-lds. LOL

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 06:58 PM (20pGq)

276 > 190 The Solid Rocket Boosters will not be recovered as in the Space Shuttle Program. Recovery is not planned for any SLS launches. Supposedly the recovery, refurb, and re-loading with propellant would cost more than building new boosters for each launch.
Posted by: Gref

Meanwhile, Musk just launched and recovered one of his rockets from its 34th flight.

Here we see the difference between a business and a tax suck.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 01, 2026 06:58 PM (IG3/x)

277 258 Stupid question.

How do they avoid all the space junk and other satellites floating about?
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 01, 2026 06:50 PM (A5RD0)

space is big and many things left up there decay and fall onto earth.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:52 PM (8avO+)

Theoretically, Space Force (previously done by USAF) can track objects down to about the size of a softball. The Shuttle Orbiter and the ISS are able to do debris avoidance maneuvers if the probability of collision is (a number I forget) or larger and there is sufficient time. The Russians never worried about orbital debris. They used what is called the Big Sky Theory. Based on their take that space is big and debris is very, very, sparse. A cold-blooded approach, but Soviets.

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 06:59 PM (5rh/l)

278 So… are they catching the boosters with Elon's chopsticks?

Posted by: mindful webworker - spaced the final front tier at April 01, 2026 07:00 PM (KNEaK)

279 > "The High Frontier" was an interesting book in the 80s by O'Neal about setting up habitats in the earth/moon system.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:56 PM (8avO+)

In Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress the loonies used theirs to bombard Earth.

At an early stage one of the characters (no spoiler here) gives a figure for the explosive equivalent of hitting the Earth with a big rock launched by a mass driver.

"Well, that's a lot less than the nukes the earthworms will be using on us".

"Yes, but we have a LOT of rocks."

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 01, 2026 07:02 PM (IG3/x)

280
A mass driver is throwing rock. In theory an electromagnet cannon could shoot packages off the moon and they could be collected in orbit and again, reduce the cost of getting materials up into orbit for use in space.

"The High Frontier" was an interesting book in the 80s by O'Neal about setting up habitats in the earth/moon system.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 01, 2026 06:56 PM (8avO

---

"Mass driver" sounds like the weapon Heinlen created in "The Moon Is a Harsh Mustress"

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 07:02 PM (20pGq)

281 Already answered. That's okay - I knew they were going to be throw-away boosters. Musk was not involved. Heh.

Posted by: mindful webworker - when your eye hits the moon... at April 01, 2026 07:02 PM (KNEaK)

282 278 So… are they catching the boosters with Elon's chopsticks?

Posted by: mindful webworker - spaced the final front tier at April 01, 2026 07:00 PM (KNEaK)

Nope, by now they are sleeping with the fishes at the bottom of the sea.

Posted by: Gref at April 01, 2026 07:03 PM (5rh/l)

283 We were staying at beach cottage rental with my aunt and uncle and my cousins. Dad and I went out to buy a tv cause the cottage didn't have one. The whole group of us squished around a tiny black and white. Lifetime memory.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2026 07:04 PM (viF8m)

284 Hmmmm ...
As human population on the Moon becomes "a thing", will passports with ID be required to travel on spaceships? ... Will future residents of the Moon even BE humans -- requiring thousands of governmental agencies to manage "stuff" (same as here on Planet Earth)? ... Or will there just be a bunch of remote-controlled robots? ... Sorry, my mind tends to stray when washing the dinner dishes.

Posted by: Kathy at April 01, 2026 07:11 PM (zuKcR)

285 So, how many of your 29 year olds were around in 1969 to see the feature show as opposed ot this epilogue?
Posted by: Orson

I kept the "Louisville Courier Journal" paper for every day, from the launch for the first moon landing to the return. My first wife used them to wrap her china when she moved out.

Posted by: javems at April 01, 2026 07:23 PM (zFsEm)

286 Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not
writing all that over again. Anyway, just
wanted to say superb blog!

Posted by: Krypto-Ratgeber at April 01, 2026 07:25 PM (W3rgi)

287 "Mass driver" sounds like the weapon Heinlen created in "The Moon Is a Harsh Mustress"
Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 01, 2026 07:02 PM (20pGq)
----
They were used in the television show Babylon 5 by the Centauri to bomb the Narns back into the stone age.

They were outlawed by every civilized race, but the arrogant Centauri didn't care and used them in defiance of interstellar law.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 01, 2026 07:40 PM (ESVrU)

288 Just have to say that when space x launched rocket man in a tesla they gave us full colored tv of the the earth for quite a long time. NASA gave us graphics that aren’t even as good as kerbal space program

I’ve changed my mind. It’s all fake and ghey

Posted by: The Dog at April 01, 2026 07:41 PM (XodLO)

289 My memory of the original landing was me asking my dad where Kirk and Spock were because in my child’s mind it was obvious the enterprise should be here.

Posted by: The Dog at April 01, 2026 07:42 PM (XodLO)

290 I was in the Air Force a few years after that, and we had VR-1200s. The VR-1200 was all solid state, I think the VR-1000 and VR-1100 had tubes. Did you go to school at Fort Monmouth?
Posted by: a.moron at April 01, 2026 06:53 PM (X5Jzz)

We retired the 1000's about a week after the landing and I helped install the new VR-1100's. We had 15 RCA TR -3 playback machines as well as one TR-4 in the record room. No school. I was awarded my MOS, 26T20, after Basic in Fort Dix. I was drafted in Sept '67 and had previous experience in TV and electronics. Surprised me that the Army actually read my history! Especially being a draftee.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 01, 2026 07:53 PM (5xuJ/)

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