NASA launched Artemis 1 on November 16, and I was there at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to witness it.
Nasa’s largest rocket, the Space Launch System, has launched the Orion capsule unmanned on a 26-day mission around Moon.
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Space launches from Nasa are not always exciting.
It was worth the effort to see history unfold, but it can be a strange experience to view from Nasa’s media site.
Keep awake for 30 hours
It’s unlikely that you will get much sleep if you watch a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or the outskirts.
Nasa asked journalists for their arrival at 5pm ET (10pm GMT), on November 15. The rocket did not launch until 1:47 AM ET (6.47 GMT) the day after that.
Many journalists, astronauts, and executives at Nasa had to be awake for the launch and subsequent events.
People often stay awake until the morning before and work through the night.
Public members who wish to see the launch from the vicinity are asked to get up early to avoid traffic jams.
Keen rocket launch watchers need to be aware that Nasa frequently cancels launches if everything is not perfect.
Artemis 1 almost failed to launch on November 16 due to an engine leakage and loose screws.
A team of emergency workers was able to reach the rocket’s danger zone and repair the screws on time. Two previous Artemis 1 attempts had been abandoned due to similar problems.
Foods that are questionable
Nasa recommends that people visit the site with their own food, but it sometimes provides food trucks.
Four times I visited Kennedy Space Center this year, as the US space agency tried unsuccessfully to launch Artemis 1.
Nearly every time, the only food available was donuts or moon pies.
These included breakfast sandwiches of grilled cheese that were served in the wee hours of the morning.
How to prepare for running for your life
You can see rocket launches from the Mission Control Center right in front of invited guests, including journalists.
This is the safest distance that a person could travel to the Artemis 1 rocket launch.
It is located approximately three miles from the site.
Despite their distance, journalists were required to be ready for a run to a designated refuge spot in the event of a rocket explosion.
Acid rain and debris are the most likely to be harmed by an exploding rocket.
Artemis 1 launched successfully at 1:47 AM ET (6.47am GMT) after only 43 minutes of the two-hour launch window.
Bill Nelson, Nasa Administrator described the launch to be the brightest and most exciting he’d ever witnessed. It also featured the strongest shockwave he’d ever experienced.
The blast-off light was so bright, I had sunglasses. You can feel it rattling through your body.
You feel the light first, then you hear the sound and vibrations.
Nasa’s Space Launch System was visible for only a few minutes before disappearing into a small dot near the Moon.
What is Artemis 1 exactly?
Artemis 1 doesn’t have a crew, but it must loop around the Moon in order to test three important components.
These include Nasa’s Space Launch System, Orion and European Service Module (ESM).
The ESM and Orion spacecraft will reach the lunar surface at 62 miles. They will then travel 40,000 m further.
After the rocket has circled the dark side the Moon, it should reach the Pacific Ocean just off San Diego.
Nasa will monitor the Artemis 1 spacecraft as it orbits Earth to see if it is still necessary to abort it.
Artemis 1’s importance is because it’s building up Artemis 2, which will take humans around to the Moon in the next couple years.
Both missions are part of Artemis 3, which seeks to place the first woman and first person of color on Mars’ lunar surface.
Nasa claims that it has started “a new chapter in human lunar exploration.”
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