NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, along with Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), lifts off at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA Kennedy. The Artemis II test flight will take the crew members on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
This was filmed by NASA's WB-57 high altitude aircraft circling at 45000ft/14000m. I have applied color corrections, noise reduction and stabilization to the video.
Credit: NASA Processing: Simeon Schmauß
Full duration on YouTube:
Originals
https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20260401-MH-NAS01-0001-Artemis\_II\_Launch\_WB57\_SEO\_Downlink
by Neaterntal
6 Comments
So fucking cool
When my Dad worked on Canberras in Vietnam they were already getting old. Amazing to see NASA still flying them.
Your NASA links are broken because you cut off the end of the URLs.
https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20260401-MH-NAS01-0001-Artemis_II_Launch_WB57_Raw_Visible_Downlink
https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20260401-MH-NAS01-0001-Artemis_II_Launch_WB57_SEO_Downlink
Separation of boosters was so cool
This is an amazing angle. The booster separation was incredibly clean, and witnessing a launch from that height makes it seem even more surreal. Bravo to the person who processed the video as well.
The music from the movie, “The Right Stuff” should be playing.