SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – NASA’s Artemis rocket is back on the launch pad in Florida.
And if the weather cooperates, people right here on the Suncoast could have a front row seat to history.
The 322-foot rocket will carry four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the moon.
The first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Getting here hasn’t been simple.
Last month, technical concerns forced NASA to roll the rocket back into the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it spent several weeks undergoing inspections and additional work.
NASA now says those issues have been resolved and the rocket is back on the pad and ready for launch.
And if skies are clear here on the Suncoast, you may not even need to leave home to see it.
You could be able to see the rocket from your backyard, driveway, or patio, as long as you have a reasonably clear view toward the east-northeast.
Shortly after liftoff, the rocket will appear low on the eastern horizon, rising slowly as a brilliant orange-white glow.
The engines are so powerful, they create what looks like a bright torch climbing into the sky, leaving a long plume behind it as it heads towards space.
But before this rocket ever leaves the ground, there’s one factor NASA watches very closely, the weather.
Lightning within 10 miles of the launch pad is an automatic no-go.
Strong winds high in the atmosphere can also push rockets off course. Even Florida’s familiar sea breeze thunderstorms can force delays.
The first launch opportunity comes Tuesday evening — April 1 — at 6.24 p.m., with additional opportunities every evening through early next week.
So if skies cooperate, the Suncoast may get a first-row seat to the moon.
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