I think this is big enough that it deserves its own thread.
The last mission I was this excited about was the JWST, though the launch itself used a proven platform, Ariane 5. Most of the challenges were about deployments and commissioning of untested technology. Before that, several of the Mars missions similarly grabbed my attention, especially during their final phases.
Artemis feels more like Apollo in scope and aims. Before Apollo 8 set off for its orbital moonshot, the Saturn had been tested on several un-crewed and crewed missions. Not so with the Space Launch System, which uses a rocket and boosters that produce 1.3 million pounds more thrust than the Saturn V. SpaceX's Starship will about double that when it launches later this year or early in 2023, but until then, SLS will be the most powerful to date.
The last I heard, the forecast was 80% favorable for tomorrow morning.
The last mission I was this excited about was the JWST, though the launch itself used a proven platform, Ariane 5. Most of the challenges were about deployments and commissioning of untested technology. Before that, several of the Mars missions similarly grabbed my attention, especially during their final phases.
Artemis feels more like Apollo in scope and aims. Before Apollo 8 set off for its orbital moonshot, the Saturn had been tested on several un-crewed and crewed missions. Not so with the Space Launch System, which uses a rocket and boosters that produce 1.3 million pounds more thrust than the Saturn V. SpaceX's Starship will about double that when it launches later this year or early in 2023, but until then, SLS will be the most powerful to date.
The last I heard, the forecast was 80% favorable for tomorrow morning.