Launch pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida falls away as Artemis II lifts off of Earth, as seen from a camera on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft. Artemis II launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2026, with the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket setting Orion and its crew of four on their way for an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
Date Created:2026-04-01
https://images.nasa.gov/details/art002m1200912222_Liftoff_1
by Neaterntal
6 Comments
Holy shit, that’s cool!
Does anyone know if there’s a full-length video or is it just OP’s gif? Thanks in advance.
I have a question. If they know what the planned orbit is, why is the SLS not orientated correctly and instead has to do a 90deg rotation. I know it probably doesn’t cost much fuel, but every gram helps, right?
Why does it immediately rotate? Is it a consequence of the platform being built the way it is and it being easier to rotate instead of restructuring the platform?
That really takes off, huh
Is it realtime or sped up
Holy shit they’re moving fast