Artemis II, NASA’s latest mission into space, will take off for the moon on Wednesday – and you can watch the live launch.
For the first time since 1972, a crew is headed to the moon. The Orion spacecraft atop NASA’s Space Launch System will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, scheduled for 3:24 pm PT.
The 10-day journey will orbit the moon, but won’t land on its surface. It will fly about 5,000 miles beyond the moon, loop around it, then return to Earth. It’s planned to splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
The four-person crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and Victor Glover.
Who is Victor Glover?
Glover is a Pomona, California native, so he’s representing the San Gabriel Valley up in space!
Glover attended Ontario High School and went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He holds a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering, a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering, a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science.
In the livestream, Glover shared his belief that the Artemis II mission will “innovate for the benefit of humanity” and “inspire the world.”
“We’re capable of doing great things when we work together,” the astronaut added.
Here’s how to watch the livestream:
According to KTLA, the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey is hosting a free public watch party, “highlighting the region’s historic ties to aerospace engineering dating back to the Apollo era.”
“This is a full circle moment for our community,” said space center staff.
You can livestream the launch on YouTube here.
