ARTEMIS II: Mission to the Moon, Humanity's Next Great Voyage Begins

[0:00] The historic journey, decades in the making. [0:03] NASA leaping into the future of space exploration, [0:06] building upon generations of human ingenuity. [0:09] Artemis II, its eyes set on returning to the moon [0:12] with the goal of building a permanent base there. [0:15] Our special coverage starts right now. [0:18] Good day from ABC Space Headquarters in New York. [0:23] Ten, nine. [0:24] We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other thing. [0:28] Four, three. [0:30] Not because they are easy. [0:32] One, zero. [0:33] But because they are hard. [0:36] We have liftoff. [0:37] For the first time, man will go to the moon. [0:41] Roger, zero G, and I feel fine. [0:43] Oh, that view is tremendous. [0:46] We rise together, back to the moon and beyond. [0:50] That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. [0:56] I'm Stephanie Ramos in New York. [1:12] You're watching ABC News Live, Artemis II, Mission to the Moon. [1:16] And a welcome to our friends joining us from National Geographic. [1:20] We're just moments away from the planned liftoff on Florida's Space Coast. [1:24] Launch teams say they are troubleshooting an issue right now, but the countdown is continuing. [1:29] We'll have more on that in just a moment. [1:31] The Artemis II rocket and spacecraft carrying four astronauts set to blast off into Earth's orbit, [1:37] then embark on a flyby of the moon. [1:39] NASA's first trip there since 1972. [1:43] The critical journey, part of a wider mission to eventually build a permanent human base on the lunar surface. [1:49] The crew for Artemis II, NASA astronauts, Mission Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, [1:55] and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, [2:00] all set to make history, making this the farthest human trip ever into deep space, [2:05] on board the Orion Space Capsule Integrity. [2:09] The team's set to spend a day in high Earth orbit before firing an engine and flying to and around the moon in a figure eight, [2:17] eventually splashing down back on Earth on day 10. [2:19] And here's another live look at the Artemis II rocket on the launch pad, [2:24] NASA's most powerful rocket ever built, taller than the Statue of Liberty. [2:28] The countdown to liftoff is now entering its final minutes, and we'll have more on the mission, [2:33] the crew, and the engineering feats that made this day possible as we await a final go from launch control. [2:40] But first, let's go to ABC News Transportation correspondent Gio Benitez, [2:43] live near the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. [2:46] Gio, launch teams are now troubleshooting an issue on the flight termination system. [2:52] What do you know? [2:54] Yeah, so this is a pretty significant issue right now, Stephanie. [2:56] So you'll see behind me that countdown clock, it is still moving. [3:00] They're still operating as normal, as if they were to take off at 6.24 p.m. Eastern. [3:05] But at this point, they would not be able to take off just yet, [3:09] and that's because they do have this issue with the flight termination system. [3:12] And essentially, this is a signal that would tell them, [3:15] hey, the rocket is going in the wrong direction, so potentially endangering lives, so to speak. [3:20] And if that were to happen, this signal would allow them to self-destruct that rocket [3:26] and make sure to save lives and not endanger people on the ground. [3:30] So it is very, very important that that works so that they could do that. [3:34] If they were to abort this mission as it takes off, for example, [3:37] that space capsule, the Orion spacecraft, would be able to separate from the rocket before that happens [3:43] to save that crew and make sure that they can get off that safely. [3:48] But, of course, you want to make sure that this system, this flight termination system, [3:53] works perfectly because it is critical. [3:55] So at this point, if they were to try to take off now, it would probably be a no-go at the moment. [4:01] And so they're troubleshooting that, trying to figure out what to do right now. [4:04] But remember, this launch window is two hours long. [4:08] So even though that says one hour and 20 minutes, still, they do have some leeway. [4:13] They do have an extra two hours to be able to launch this tonight. [4:17] And if they can fix this issue before that window closes, then we will be making history tonight, Stephanie. [4:23] We absolutely will. [4:24] If there is a launch, Gio, what can we expect? [4:27] So if there is a launch, then you'll be able to take these astronauts into space and they will stay in Earth's orbit for about a day. [4:37] Then they will slingshot off to the moon. [4:39] They will go ahead and go around the far side of the moon. [4:42] No human eyes have laid eyes on the far side of the moon. [4:46] So that will be quite extraordinary. [4:48] And then they'll be able to come back. [4:50] The whole mission would be about 10 days. [4:52] 685,000 miles traveled. [4:55] They will go farther than any other human has ever gone before. [4:59] So it's quite exciting if that happens. [5:01] And remember, the intent is not to land these humans on the moon right now. [5:05] It is just to go ahead and make sure that the system works. [5:09] And if it does, eventually in 2028, that's when we would see humans land on the moon. [5:15] And, Gio, as you know, this crew is making history in more ways than one. [5:19] How many firsts could we see here? [5:21] An extraordinary amount of firsts. [5:25] So we're talking about the pilot, Victor Glover. [5:28] He would be the first African-American to go to the moon. [5:31] Then you have Christina Koch, the first woman to go to the moon. [5:34] And then you have Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to go to the moon. [5:37] So it's quite extraordinary how many firsts would be happening on this flight, [5:42] aside from going farther than any other human before. [5:47] And, Gio, I've been watching you all day. [5:49] You were on Good Morning America this morning. [5:51] We've been chatting throughout the day. [5:52] I know you're excited. [5:55] Just personally share it with us. [5:57] How do you feel being there, being so close to the launch pad? [6:02] You know, there is nothing quite as unifying and special as a launch. [6:06] Because when you see this take off, you first of all feel the vibrations coming from the ground and up your body. [6:13] It's extraordinary. [6:13] But you also see and you get quite emotional about this because you see what can happen when humans come together. [6:20] And these are the things that are possible with humanity to see something so extraordinary happen that we can lift off this planet. [6:27] We can lift off our own personal little spaceship here into space and go farther than ever before. [6:34] It's pretty special stuff. [6:35] It is so special. [6:36] Also just reminds us of just how tiny we are when we're watching this process and seeing exactly where these astronauts are going. [6:43] Incredible. [6:44] Gio, thank you so much for your reporting. [6:47] Thank you. [6:47] Now to Titusville, Florida, nearby the Kennedy Space Center, where large crowds of spectators have gathered along the beach. [6:54] They're waiting to watch the launch in person. [6:57] That's where we find ABC's Mola Lenghi. [6:59] Mola, what is the energy like there in Titusville as we approach liftoff? [7:06] Yeah, a lot of excitement, Stephanie. [7:08] You know, when we first got here this morning, there were a few dozen people here. [7:11] Now well over a thousand. [7:13] People are shoulder to shoulder. [7:14] It's hard to even find a place to sit. [7:16] These folks excited to witness this launch, to see the launch right across the Indian River Lagoon there. [7:24] Folks are excited to be a part of history. [7:26] You know, every time I kind of walk through, I'll have a couple of people grab me like, hey, what are you hearing? [7:30] Is it going to take off? [7:31] Is the launch still happening? [7:32] So people excited about being here and witnessing history. [7:36] We've talked to folks who were old enough to have experienced and witnessed the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. [7:44] And they were, you know, fascinated and captivated as kids by that. [7:47] And this is a chance to kind of reconnect with that fascination. [7:51] Also folks here who were not old enough to be around but want to be a part of this next chapter, bringing their kids out to hopefully create some lasting memories for them as well, Stephanie. [8:00] Absolutely. [8:01] Such a historic day. [8:02] Mola, thank you. [8:03] And this launch is contingent on good weather. [8:07] WABC meteorologist Lee Goldberg joins me now to talk about the weather. [8:10] How is it looking out there? [8:12] How is it looking for Florida along the Space Coast? [8:14] So if you think, we saw Mola's pictures, we saw GEO's pictures, there was cloud cover in the background. [8:21] That's actually a key factor in this. [8:24] So the thing is, we have multiple criteria that we cannot violate in terms of this launch taking place. [8:31] You need temperatures between 41 degrees and 94 degrees. [8:34] You need limited to no cloud cover, no cumulus clouds, no lightning, no precipitation. [8:40] We've even been monitoring solar activity because there was a flare that came off the sun on the 30th. [8:46] But thankfully, that's not a direct impact. [8:48] So at this point, we're seeing showers moving inland, clearing skies start to move in. [8:53] So I think we're going to be in pretty good shape. [8:55] It's an 80% go, and as long as the current issue they have right now doesn't line up with another patch of cloud cover, [9:04] I don't think weather is going to be the main issue tonight. [9:06] I think we're going to be in good shape. [9:07] Temperatures are in the 70s, so that's in a sweet spot, too. [9:10] We just need this cloud layer to not be about 4,500 feet. [9:14] So they can kind of shoot the gap with that and look for those windows where the cloud cover gets limited [9:20] and you're able to launch the rocket, which I think most likely that would be able to happen, at least in terms of weather. [9:26] Okay, sounds good, Lee. [9:27] Thank you so much. [9:28] For more now, we are absolutely thrilled to be joined by former astronaut and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. [9:35] Senator Kelly, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us. [9:40] You've talked about how this mission is something we've literally never done before. [9:44] What are you watching for over these next few hours? [9:49] Well, Stephanie, hopefully in about an hour and a half, these four astronauts are going to launch on a trip here from Florida all the way to the moon and back. [10:00] There's always some technical issue that has to be worked out. [10:03] They're looking at a problem with the flight termination system, but the weather's clearing up. [10:07] The winds are dying down. [10:08] So right now, I'd say we look like we're in pretty good shape. [10:12] That is certainly some good news. [10:14] You've spent more than 50 days in space and traveled more than 20 million miles. [10:19] What type of butterflies are the astronauts feeling right now in this tense hour and a half before a possible liftoff? [10:29] Well, I mean, this is a really exciting day for them. [10:32] They've been preparing for this for years. [10:35] I think it's also exciting for their families, for NASA, for the country. [10:38] What else are they feeling? [10:41] They're probably very focused right now on, you know, the technical issue they're working on, but also making sure that the systems of the spacecraft are all configured correctly. [10:51] They've got checklists they're working through. [10:53] I know on my four space flights, it's really making sure the crew is focused on the mission. [10:59] There are certainly things that they could do on board the vehicle that could stop the launch count. [11:05] You want to make sure that you do not make those kind of mistakes. [11:10] And, Senator, the astronauts in Artemis 2 will travel potentially further than any human has ever done. [11:17] Does any part of you wish you were doing it? [11:19] You've been on four space flights. [11:21] Is there a part of you that's like, oh, I miss that. [11:24] I miss this. [11:25] Stephanie, in any part, I mean, all of me wants to do that. [11:29] I wish I could jump in there and, you know, take the place of any of the crew members. [11:34] I don't even have to be the guy in charge this time, which actually wouldn't be a good idea because I do not know enough about the Orion systems and the procedures. [11:44] But, sure, I would love to have the opportunity to do something like this. [11:48] When I was a kid, I thought I would be the first person to walk on the planet Mars. [11:52] I mean, that's what I was working for. [11:54] I, unfortunately, I think I was born in the wrong century. [11:59] Well, you've accomplished a lot despite that. [12:02] Let's talk about this space race. [12:04] We hear about that a lot. [12:05] You say you want to beat China to the moon. [12:08] The U.S. should beat China to the moon. [12:10] Do you believe there's any chance we won't? [12:12] And just share with us why it's so important. [12:16] Well, we don't really know much about their timeline and how focused they are on this. [12:20] They do have a plan to put Chinese astronauts on the surface of the moon. [12:24] They're trying to do something that we did in the 1960s. [12:27] So let me be perfectly clear about that. [12:30] The mission that we're trying to do is to build some infrastructure on the moon at the lunar south pole [12:38] and do it in a way that's more sustainable in the sense that we're going to continue to go back [12:43] and build an economy on the surface of the moon. [12:46] I would like us to put U.S. astronauts on the surface of the moon on Artemis. [12:52] It might be, you know, let's say it's going to be Artemis Mission 5, I think, is in the plan right now. [12:58] I'd like to do that before the Chinese get back there. [13:01] I think the American people would be disappointed. [13:04] I know I would if they were back, if they were on the moon before we were back to the surface of the moon. [13:10] And, Senator, I do want to mention that NASA has just addressed the issue that they were dealing with, [13:17] and apparently everything is going as planned. [13:21] So no delays for now. [13:23] So we are on schedule. [13:25] But I do want to ask, many Americans have said that this is very costly. [13:29] It's cost billions of dollars to go on these missions, to spend on these missions. [13:33] They can't afford groceries, health care. [13:36] Talk a little bit about why it's important to spend this money on these types of missions. [13:44] Well, the American people get a return on the investment in science and exploration and discovery. [13:52] I think that's pretty clear. [13:54] If you watch just the history of our space program over decades, it does cost a lot. [14:00] I understand that. [14:01] I serve in the United States Senate and, you know, have to, you know, I'm part of the process to come up with a budget each year. [14:08] NASA's budget is less than 1% of the federal budget. [14:13] But these are taxpayer dollars, and we have to be careful with how we spend them. [14:18] And, you know, there are certainly things, you know, this administration has done, especially recently, [14:23] that, you know, from a lot of different perspectives, do not make a lot of sense. [14:28] This makes a lot of sense. [14:29] And this, by the way, is also Donald Trump's plan from his first administration. [14:33] And I've been supportive of it, you know, when he started it and then through the Biden administration. [14:38] And now I'd like to see the Artemis program continue until we, you know, get that permanent presence on the moon. [14:46] And while we have you, we want to talk about your inspiration when it came to getting into space when you were a child. [14:55] When Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon, you were in kindergarten. [14:59] Is that right? [15:00] And did that help you, help inspire you to become an astronaut? [15:05] Just if you could share that with us, we're just curious. [15:07] Well, I think it inspired my twin brother, Scott, to become an astronaut. [15:13] But my mom tells me that I fell asleep on the floor. [15:17] I was five and I was apparently tired. [15:20] It was late at night. [15:21] So I missed it. [15:22] But it was like Apollo 12 and Apollo 14, 15, 16, up to 17. [15:27] I watched those missions. [15:29] I saw astronauts not only on the surface of the moon but driving a vehicle on the surface of the moon [15:34] and learned about those astronauts and the missions behind them. [15:40] And then I watched the Apollo Soyuz and, you know, and the first space station that we built on orbit, [15:47] which was called Skylab, and then I had the opportunity to do that myself, [15:52] going to ISS four times in the space shuttle. [15:55] So these missions can be very inspirational for kids where they might decide, [16:00] hey, I want to be a scientist. [16:01] I want to be an engineer. [16:02] Maybe I want to be an astronaut. [16:04] So there's value in this beyond just the technological and the innovation aspect of it. [16:11] Absolutely. [16:12] And I have to mention that my son's classmates in science class, [16:16] they've been watching the coverage of Artemis 2, and they are very excited. [16:20] So who knows? [16:20] There's likely an astronaut in that group. [16:22] But somewhere across the country, someone's being influenced by all of this. [16:26] My granddaughter is watching from her school in Tucson, Arizona. [16:33] They got the entire school together to watch this. [16:35] I don't know at what time. [16:37] I mean, she's going to be five in May. [16:39] So she's basically the same age I was when Neil Armstrong took that first step onto the moon [16:45] when I was asleep on the floor. [16:49] Senator, you are one of a select group of people who will ever get a view of planet Earth from space. [16:56] We know that your brother, Scott, also spent time in space. [16:59] How did looking at stunning views of Earth from above change your perspective? [17:07] I would imagine that it would have an impact on how you look at life. [17:12] I mean, just seeing this big, giant, round ball. [17:16] Let me say again, round for those people out there that don't seem to understand that part of it. [17:21] Just this round ball floating in the blackness of space. [17:24] And you just see this thing. [17:26] And it is an island in our solar system. [17:30] And we have no place else to go. [17:31] I mean, we're not all moving to Mars someday. [17:33] You get this really strong feeling about how we have to take care of this planet. [17:37] We have to do a better job at it. [17:38] And we're really all, we are all in this together. [17:42] Well said. [17:42] Senator Mark Kelly, it's been an honor to speak with you. [17:45] Thank you so much for your time. [17:46] Really appreciate it. [17:48] And we do want to mention that both hatches have now been closed. [17:51] So we are moving this train right along, or should I say rocket? [17:54] We're moving this rocket right along. [17:56] All right, Senator Kelly, thank you. [17:58] My next guest is someone who knows a lot about space as well, and carrying out a mission of this magnitude. [18:04] Joining me here on set is ABC News contributor and astrophysicist, Hakeem Olusayi. [18:10] Hakeem, thank you so much for joining me in studio. [18:13] This is exciting. [18:14] This is so exciting. [18:15] Happy launch day. [18:16] Happy launch day. [18:18] Can you walk us through this mission from launch to splashdown? [18:23] We've been covering it all day. [18:25] We're watching the images come in. [18:27] We know that both hatches have now been locked in. [18:30] So walk us through, where are they right now in this process? [18:33] Yes. [18:33] So they are locked in now. [18:36] So it looks like, you know, unless something else pops up, they are on their way virtually, right? [18:43] The countdown continues. [18:44] That's the important thing. [18:45] And, you know, if you've seen me on here before, I'm always concerned with safety. [18:51] And so this very first step of launch is when the spacecraft is going to be under incredible stresses. [18:58] Luckily, the atmosphere gets thinner as you go up, right? [19:02] So that works out in our favor. [19:04] But first, the spacecraft is going to go into orbit around Earth. [19:07] And it's going to run some experiments, right? [19:10] And so then they are going to do a burn that sends them on their trajectory to the moon. [19:16] And this trajectory is a special trajectory. [19:19] And what that means is that nothing incredibly different has to happen for them to return home. [19:25] It's a free return trajectory. [19:27] So the first day, they're going to be in Earth orbit, day through to four. [19:32] They're going to do their outbound transit. [19:34] And they're going to be in space between the Earth and the moon, still running experiments. [19:39] You know, the life support systems were not tested with real humans in the Artemis 1. [19:44] This craft hasn't had humans on it before. [19:47] There's a radiation room that they can test out in case there are things for future missions, [19:52] like coronal mass ejections or solar flares that create a radiation danger for the astronauts. [19:58] And then they're going to go and do their lunar flyby. [20:01] And so if you look at the diameter of the Earth, there's just under 4,000, excuse me, [20:07] the radius of the Earth, it's just over 4,000 miles from the center of the Earth to its surface. [20:12] They're going to go even further than that beyond the moon, right? [20:16] So they're going to be farther away from Earth than any humans ever. [20:21] And then they're going to return to Earth. [20:22] And again, this is when it gets really hectic, [20:25] because the craft is under incredible stresses once it begins re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. [20:32] And unlike the trip out, the atmosphere gets thicker. [20:37] So the key technology here are these heat shield technologies, [20:41] these tiles that prevent the heat from going into the craft, [20:45] allowing it to maintain its integrity. [20:48] So that's new technology that's going to be tested with humans inside for the first time. [20:52] And ultimately, they get to a point where they deploy their parachutes, [20:56] they splash down in the ocean, and they are recovered. [20:59] And the fact that us primates are able to, you know, we were in the Stone Age not long ago. [21:07] Right. [21:07] And now we're sending humans far beyond the moon. [21:10] It's sometimes mind-boggling. [21:12] It really is. [21:13] Just to hear, I mean, we've been talking about this all day, but it is just incredible. [21:17] And we know that that rocket is going to re-enter the orbit at 25,000 miles per hour, [21:24] which tests the heat shield. [21:26] Is that right? [21:26] That's right. [21:27] And the other thing to understand is how crazy the forces is that the spacecraft experiences. [21:32] There is a huge pressure on one side, lots of friction. [21:36] And not only that, when you compress a gas, right, it heats up. [21:41] So it's not just heating from being, from the friction, it's also heating from the compression. [21:48] And what that also means is that there is a huge pressure on the front side of the vehicle [21:53] and a much lower pressure on the back side of the vehicle. [21:57] And it's those forces that typically cause meteors in our atmosphere to break apart. [22:01] So we are building a craft that is able to sustain what rocks from space can't survive. [22:08] Right. [22:09] Yeah, that is incredible. [22:10] All leading to splashdown. [22:13] The astronauts would then be recovered by the U.S. Navy. [22:15] But we are at the beginning stages of all of this. [22:17] Cannot wait. [22:18] Thank you so much, Hakeem. [22:19] Appreciate your time. [22:20] Thank you. [22:21] Much more ahead of this special coverage of Artemis II, historic Artemis II mission to the moon. [22:26] The rocket just minutes away from liftoff as four astronauts, three Americans, and a Canadian prepare to make history. [22:33] Welcome back to our viewers on ABC News Live and National Geographic. [23:03] This is special coverage of the historic Artemis II mission to the moon. [23:06] Four astronauts, two Americans, and a Canadian now on board NASA's most powerful rocket ever built, minutes away from liftoff. [23:14] The crew set to orbit Earth, then travel farther into deep space than any human has done before. [23:20] And slingshot around the moon. [23:23] The mission, part of a huge effort to eventually build a permanent base on the lunar surface. [23:28] Let's go to reporter Melanie Holt from our Orlando affiliate WFTV. [23:32] She's live near the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. [23:35] Melanie, great to have you with us on this historic day. [23:40] Still on track for a 624 launch? [23:42] We are, and we have less than an hour to the open of that two-hour window that opens at 624 p.m., and we did have an issue out on the range. [23:55] We were told that that problem has been resolved, and right now the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft you see just about four miles from us out on the pad are in good shape. [24:06] Teams aren't working. [24:07] We're not having any technical issues that would prevent that 624 targeted launch, and the only issue that we had probably in the last hour or so was on the range with a flight termination system signal. [24:21] The range had to be sure that if anything went awry with that rocket, if it somehow veered off course, they could send a signal to terminate the flight. [24:30] Do you know how they did that? [24:31] Do you know how they did that? [24:31] Do you know how they did that? [24:31] Do you know how they did that? [24:32] They walked right over there. [24:33] That is the vehicle assembly building where the Artemis rocket and the Orion spacecraft rolled out just not too many days ago. [24:43] They went in there and found a piece of heritage equipment from the shuttle program, and they were able to verify that that flight termination signal was working by using that old piece of shuttle equipment. [24:56] And now here we are back on track. [24:58] The range is green for launch. [25:00] Obviously, folks have been watching weather, but if you look around me here, you could see that things are pretty clear at the moment. [25:06] So, Stephanie, we are looking good right now for an on-time launch, but this is space. [25:12] Anything could happen in the next few minutes here at the Kennedy Space Center. [25:16] Things are looking pretty good this afternoon. [25:19] Liftoff just stood under an hour away. [25:21] Melody, thank you so much. [25:23] Let's bring in former NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain. [25:26] Susan, it's been great speaking with you the last few days, last couple of weeks about this, but here we are. [25:31] We made it. [25:32] Today is the day. [25:33] What should we be looking out for leading up to this launch? [25:37] Well, Stephanie, right now they're in kind of a quiet period for the audience, let's say, and for the crew. [25:46] There is a planned hold, if they need it, that'll come up at about T minus 40 minutes. [25:52] If they don't need it, they will continue to count down and launch on time. [25:58] The biggest event that's going to happen before engines light is the pole of the room when everybody gives a go for launch. [26:07] Okay, so we were seeing some images earlier of what looks like the crew in the spacecraft. [26:15] What is the crew doing while waiting for launch? [26:18] And what's likely going on in their minds? [26:22] Oh, well, probably a lot of different things are going on in their mind. [26:26] They're doing a little bit of preparation. [26:28] They're chatting with each other. [26:30] They're wiggling around to try and stay comfortable because they've been lying on their backs for quite some time. [26:37] And they have an intercom system where they can talk to each other, and we can't hear them. [26:42] So they're probably talking to each other. [26:45] They're excited. [26:46] They're really hoping it goes. [26:47] Nobody likes to get out and have to try again another day. [26:51] So they're hoping it goes. [26:53] Seems like a great team, very experienced as well. [26:55] We will be chatting with you again shortly. [26:58] Susan, thank you so much. [27:00] Much more ahead of our special coverage of the historic Artemis II mission to the moon. [27:05] As we head to break, we have some National Geographic behind-the-scenes footage of the astronauts showing off a mock-up of the Orion spacecraft. [27:13] Take a look. [27:16] We're thinking maybe one of the sleeping bags will be kind of laid out around this bend right here. [27:25] So somebody's going to have a head maybe over here and then the feet all the way down there by the igloos wall. [27:30] And Dre, don't forget that I've already claimed the tunnel here, except you're not supposed to sleep with your head in there because of carbon dioxide. [27:36] So I'm going to be hanging like a bat is my plan. [27:39] But I won't even know it because there's no gravity. [27:41] Did you all really get dibs on the spot? [27:43] She thinks. [27:44] I know. [27:45] I'm the only short option. [27:47] Shotgun! [27:48] Yeah, I basically called shotgun. [27:50] I did. [27:50] But my argument is that even though it's very selfish to call shotgun, but my argument is I'm the only one who's short enough to actually fit in there. [28:01] What do you guys think? [28:01] Are they going to buy it? [28:02] Are the boys going to buy that? [28:04] You actually elongate in space. [28:06] No one will fit. [28:08] So she may be too tall. [28:10] That's true. [28:11] I probably won't fit. [28:11] So we'll talk this over on orbit. [28:13] I'm Stephanie Ramos in New York. [28:41] You're watching ABC News Live's special coverage of the historic Artemis 2 mission to the moon. [28:47] And a welcome to our friends joining us from National Geographic. [28:50] All eyes on Florida's space coast, where we are just minutes away from liftoff. [28:55] The Artemis 2 rocket carrying four astronauts set to blast off into Earth's orbit, then embark on a flyby of the moon. [29:02] NASA's first trip there since 1972. [29:04] The critical journey, part of a wider mission to eventually build a permanent human base on the lunar surface. [29:12] The crew set to make history, making this the farthest human trip ever into deep space, on board the Orion Space Capsule Integrity. [29:20] The team set to spend a day in high Earth orbit before firing an engine and flying to and around the moon in a figure eight, [29:27] eventually splashing down back on Earth on day 10. [29:30] Get back to ABC News transportation correspondent, Gio Benitez, live near the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. [29:39] And, Gio, what a day you have been there. [29:41] You've been talking to folks. [29:43] You're so close to the launch pad. [29:44] Truly a front row seat to history. [29:47] And you just had a chance to speak with the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy. [29:51] What did he share with you? [29:52] Yeah, that's right, Seth. [29:54] Look, I mean, just seeing that countdown clock behind me, though, 49 minutes. [29:59] So anytime it's under an hour, that's when things start getting really, really serious here and very, very exciting. [30:05] As you mentioned, Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, I spoke with him. [30:09] He, at one point just months ago, was the acting administrator of NASA. [30:13] He has spent time with these astronauts. [30:15] And he basically said, you know what, this is the new space race because this is eventually how the U.S. gets to that South Pole, that critical South Pole, where there is water and ice, they believe. [30:26] And they could use that to eventually launch systems farther into space. [30:31] Take a look at part of our conversation. [30:34] Enough about me, though, talking here. [30:36] Let's go ahead and bring in the secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, who's joining you. [30:40] Good to see you, man. [30:40] Oh, my gosh, what an exciting day. [30:42] Listen, this is wild, right? [30:43] This is a moment that brings the country together. [30:47] The technology, the time, the effort that has gone into making today possible is so cool. [30:52] And you mentioned, what does this bring us to? [30:54] It is a trip to the moon. [30:55] We don't land. [30:56] But from this, we land in Artemis 3 on the moon. [30:59] We think to the South Pole. [31:01] On the South Pole, you have ice, which is oxygen, which is water, which is life, right? [31:08] And what you learn at the South Pole of the moon is going to eventually get you to go to Mars. [31:12] I mean, so this is a huge leap. [31:14] Yeah, and that is so interesting and so exciting. [31:19] All right, so we do have a little bit of breaking news here. [31:21] There are troubleshooting now another issue. [31:23] This is a battery temperature issue on the launch abort system. [31:27] It is one of two batteries on the launch abort systems. [31:31] And basically, they're trying to figure out now, is it a sensor issue or is it an issue with the battery itself? [31:37] So they're trying to sort that out. [31:38] As you can see, that countdown clock is still going. [31:41] So we're still targeting a 624 launch. [31:44] But remember, 624 p.m. Eastern is when that launch window actually opens up. [31:49] We have two hours to get things right and get this up in the air. [31:53] That two-hour window is important there. [31:56] We do have another update also on the weather. [31:58] It's actually improved. [31:59] We've been saying all day it's 80% probability, and that was looking very good. [32:05] Now it's 90% probability. [32:07] So the weather is cooperating. [32:09] Now we just need to make sure that these issues are resolved with the battery. [32:13] Absolutely. [32:13] And I do want to touch on the launch abort system, which is what NASA is trying to deal with right now with those batteries. [32:19] It consists of three solid rocket motors to jettison, attitude, and abort motors. [32:24] And basically, in case of an emergency, these motors work together to propel the astronauts inside Orion's crew module to safety. [32:31] So this is really, really important. [32:33] So hopefully they get that together. [32:36] But, Gio, share with us why Artemis 2 is such an important milestone in NASA's return to the moon. [32:43] Yeah, I mean, Artemis 2, first of all, it's taking you farther than ever before. [32:47] But if you eventually want to land on the moon, you have to make sure that this system is safe and that it is capable. [32:54] So they're going to slingshot around the moon to make sure that the system actually works. [32:59] And then once you do that, eventually, in 2028, they plan to actually land humans on that far side of the moon. [33:06] So they're going to be looking at exactly where they should be landing because the goal here is to eventually build a lunar base. [33:13] Without a lunar base, you really can't go farther into the universe. [33:17] You sort of need that pit stop of the moon. [33:19] And so if you want to eventually get to Mars, you need to start at the moon. [33:24] Gio, thank you very much. [33:26] We'll check in with you in a bit. [33:27] Now to Titusville, Florida, nearby the Kennedy Space Center, where large crowds of spectators have gathered along the beach waiting to watch the launch in person. [33:36] That's where we find ABC's Mola Lange. [33:37] And Mola, what are you seeing and hearing there as the countdown gets closer? [33:45] Yeah, folks still showing up. [33:46] You know, when we got here around 9, 10 o'clock Eastern, there were a few dozen people here now. [33:52] Everywhere you look, as far as the eye can see, crowds of people. [33:56] It's really shoulder to shoulder. [33:57] There's nowhere to even really set up shop and put your beach chairs down anymore. [34:02] But folks are excited, excited about getting this vantage point into history. [34:05] Right across the lagoon there, the Indian River Lagoon is the Kennedy Space Center. [34:09] That's where Artemis will be launching from. [34:11] And folks that we've talked to are excited about getting this view. [34:16] You know, we've talked to the spectrum of folks, folks who are old enough to remember the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s, being captivated by that, wanting to kind of reconnect to that fascination as a kid. [34:25] And folks who were not old enough to remember that, weren't around back then, but wanting to experience this new chapter in NASA's history. [34:33] So a lot of excitement. [34:35] Folks obviously keeping an eye on the weather. [34:36] We've seen some passing showers over the last few hours. [34:41] Some wind, but it does seem to finally be clearing up. [34:44] As you heard Gio mentioned a moment ago, the launch conditions are at a 90% chance now of favorable launch conditions. [34:53] So things are looking even better than they were before. [34:57] And folks here excited about watching history. [34:59] Stephanie. [35:00] Yeah, about 44 minutes away from liftoff. [35:02] And I can hear those kiddos behind you giggling. [35:05] They are getting a priceless education right now. [35:08] Mola, thank you. [35:09] The launch is still slated for 624 Eastern time. [35:14] After the engines ignite, there will be several key events. [35:17] The first eight minutes, the most critical of the launch, including today's launch. [35:21] This Artemis II mission will last for 10 days. [35:24] That's the centerpiece of it. [35:25] And that figure eight slingshot move around the dark side of the moon. [35:29] After about a day in orbit, the engine on Orion's service module performs the critical translunar injection burn, a rocket boost that will send the astronauts on a free return trajectory toward the moon. [35:42] This figure eight flight path uses the Earth's and moon's gravity to take the astronauts around the moon and back home, a journey of more than 230,000 miles. [35:52] It takes about four days to reach the moon, culminating with a lunar flyby. [35:57] The crew will be the first people to see the far side of the moon in more than 50 years. [36:02] NASA expects a communications blackout during this period. [36:06] Earth's gravity then pulls Orion back during its four-day trip home. [36:10] Orion is equipped with a heat shield that keeps the crew safe from re-entry temperatures that can reach 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. [36:18] The Orion enters Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour, using parachutes and the drag of the atmosphere to slow its descent to less than 20 miles per hour. [36:28] The 10-day mission ends with Orion and crew splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. [36:34] All right, let's get a check of the weather. [36:39] WABC meteorologist Lee Goldberg joins me now here in studio. [36:42] Lee, a lot of focus is around the weather in Florida. [36:46] How's it looking for launch? [36:48] Big smile because the timing, like, couldn't be better at this point. [36:51] You heard Molenjew talking about the showers. [36:53] So they're starting to move inland and essentially showers, rising air. [36:57] Behind it, you have sinking air. [36:58] That inhibits cloud cover. [37:00] That's what we're seeing off to the east. [37:02] So lightning threat, don't have to be concerned about that. [37:04] You have to check off all the boxes in the weather criteria. [37:07] No strong winds. [37:08] We're good there. [37:09] No precipitation. [37:10] That's by the boards. [37:11] No lightning and cumulus clouds. [37:13] This is the one concern that we have. [37:15] Just there'll be scattered clouds around, although they're diminishing. [37:18] Temperatures in a sweet spot were good there. [37:20] But you can't have cumulus clouds within 10 nautical miles, and they can't be very thick. [37:25] And you can see we can't have any thunderstorm remnants. [37:28] Apollo 12 back in 1969, that rocket went through a cumulus cloud and essentially became a conductor [37:33] and produce a rocket-triggered lightning strike. [37:37] Actually, two of them that it didn't inhibit the issue, but for a time, it shut down power [37:42] and actually knocked out the navigation module for a little while, but then they were able [37:46] to get back online. [37:47] So for us, we're looking at 70s, scattered clouds, no rain, lighter winds. [37:51] I don't think the weather's getting in the way of this launch, and we have a long window, [37:54] just some scattered clouds around. [37:55] Stephanie? [37:56] All right, Lee, thanks so much. [37:59] The astronauts on board Artemis II are set to make history today. [38:02] One person who understands just how much weight is on their shoulders right now is former NASA [38:07] astronaut Butch Wilmore. [38:09] Butch, thank you so much for joining us. [38:12] You have spent 25 years at NASA, flown four different spacecraft, and have accumulated 464 days [38:19] in space. [38:20] You have a perspective here that not a lot of people have. [38:24] As you are watching this process, how are you feeling? [38:29] Yeah, it's truly exciting, truly thrilling, and I think that's what's on their minds right [38:34] now, all four astronauts, is the excitement and also the responsibility. [38:40] It's a huge responsibility, all these great endeavors that our nation undertakes, this nation [38:44] that does things that no other nation has ever done, and going to the moon is one of those [38:49] things. [38:50] And the responsibility for each one, the task and the roles that they play throughout [38:54] this entire process, including the launch that hopefully will take place in 48, a little [38:58] over 40 minutes, thrilling, like I said, preparation and responsibility is what's on their minds. [39:04] And when we look at the orbital speeds, they are just incredible. [39:07] These astronauts are going to be going almost 18,000 miles per hour when they hit orbital speed. [39:13] How much does that affect the human body? [39:15] Oh, well, the weightlessness at that point, it's relative, right? [39:19] You look down, you can see the speed. [39:21] Roughly over five miles per second is what they're traveling. [39:25] But the big thing about today, once they get to orbit, they'll have a couple of burns to adjust [39:29] their perigee. [39:30] The perigee is the closest point of your orbit to the Earth. [39:33] The apogee is the farthest point of your orbit from the Earth. [39:36] And they're going to burn and go to an apogee of 44,000-ish miles, which no human has been [39:44] that far in 54 years. [39:46] And that's the one full day trajectory all the way around as they check out all the spacecraft [39:51] systems and make sure everything is ready before that translunar injection burn, where [39:57] they add that velocity, add that speed to get them on a trajectory for the moon. [40:01] And you're the person to ask, is there any downtime while you're on this spacecraft? [40:07] What can the astronauts do to pass their time? [40:09] Or do they even have time to pass? [40:13] There will be some downtime. [40:15] I wouldn't call it downtime. [40:16] You're always focused on what the tasks are. [40:19] And they have those divided up because you certainly, during this process, you want to [40:23] be able to stick your nose in the window and take it all in. [40:26] And they've got that in their plan to do just that. [40:29] Because each portion of this mission is thrilling within itself. [40:33] And the human aspect of that and have cameras in the window trying to capture as much of [40:37] it for us to see when they get back. [40:39] It's all, like I said, just absolutely thrilling. [40:42] Absolutely thrilling. [40:43] Thank you so much, Butch Wilmore, for joining us. [40:46] Appreciate your time. [40:47] And joining me once again is ABC News contributor and astrophysicist Hakeem Olushewi. [40:53] Hakeem, engineers are now working on an issue with a battery on the launch abort system. [40:58] Talk to us about just how critical this system is. [41:00] It's basically meant to keep astronauts safe. [41:03] Right. [41:04] There are two batteries for the launch abort system. [41:07] And they have a range in which they can operate safely within a temperature range. [41:11] And one of them is throwing an error. [41:14] So if you're going to know what the battery temperature is, you need to have a sensor there. [41:19] Right? [41:19] So whenever you have a problem like this, you need to figure out, is it the sensor that has [41:24] a problem or does the battery itself have a problem? [41:27] Now, these batteries, I believe, are 120-volt lithium batteries. [41:31] Right? [41:32] And so you may recall when you fly, they often say, hey, no lithium batteries in your gear. [41:37] Because they overheat, that could be catastrophic. [41:40] Right? [41:40] And it's right above the fuel tank. [41:42] So this is, you know, it's unlikely to be critical, but it could be critical. [41:48] So they have to take every safety precaution necessary. [41:52] And this abort system is activated only during early ascent. [41:55] Is that right? [41:56] Well, yes. [41:57] It's during the time when the spacecraft is launching up from the ground into the atmosphere. [42:04] And when things, if things go wrong, it's very important to separate the astronauts from [42:10] the craft. [42:11] And so it can activate in like a millisecond and separate the astronauts and, you know, [42:17] jettison them away safely. [42:18] All right. [42:18] NASA checking on that right now. [42:20] Thank you so much, Hakeem. [42:21] You're welcome. [42:22] Much more ahead of our special coverage of the historic Artemis 2 mission to the moon. [42:26] As we head to break, we have more behind-the-scenes footage from National Geographic of the [42:32] astronauts showing off a mock-up of the Orion spacecraft. [42:35] Take a look. [42:36] Here we've got both the toilet area and the exercise device on Orion. [42:41] So this is the flywheel exercise device. [42:43] We'll start here. [42:44] The toilet is right below it. [42:45] So underneath me right now is the hiking bay. [42:48] And then it kind of looks like a rower. [42:50] So you have a strap here and a handheld bar or a harness, depending on what type of exercise [42:56] you're doing. [42:56] And the way you use it is actually in this direction. [43:00] So this is one of the things that we have to sort of think in a zero-G environment for, [43:04] that the person who's exercising on this will have their head coming up in the direction [43:10] of the docking tunnel. [43:11] And if you're a really tall person, let's say the largest Canadian that we have, and [43:15] you're assigned to this mission, your head is going to extend all the way toward the docking [43:19] hatch in that direction. [43:21] And the toilet is actually down in that direction. [43:24] So you can imagine the orientation you need. [43:26] Your head would be up here if you were using the toilet and you were in this hygiene bay. [43:30] And all the while, someone could be exercising. [43:32] So someone could be extending back and forth along this plane throughout the capsule. [43:37] Welcome back to our viewers on ABC News Live and National Geographic. [44:05] This is special coverage of the historic Artemis II mission to the moon. [44:09] Four astronauts, three Americans, and a Canadian now on board NASA's most powerful rocket ever built, [44:15] just minutes away from liftoff. [44:17] The crew, set to orbit Earth, then travel farther into deep space than any humans before them, [44:23] and slingshot around the moon. [44:25] The mission, part of a huge effort to eventually build a permanent base on the lunar surface. [44:30] Let's go to reporter Nick Pepintonis from our Orlando affiliate WFTV. [44:34] Live in Titusville, Florida, near Kennedy Space Center. [44:39] Nick, set the scene for us. [44:40] We know people have gathered there to watch this. [44:43] You've got a front row seat to history. [44:45] What's it like? [44:47] This is Space View Park in Titusville. [44:53] To let you know, we're about 11 miles from Artemis II in the launch site. [44:57] It's about as close as you can get without a special ticket. [45:00] And as you can see here, it is pretty much standing room only at this point. [45:05] A lot of people got here early this morning before the crack of dawn, choosing to end 12 hours or more, [45:12] if they go to the end of the launch window here, just to see this historic moment. [45:17] There are people from all over the world. [45:19] There are media outlets from as far away as Australia broadcast from this site right now. [45:23] A lot of people, for them, it's their first ever launch. [45:27] They don't know what to expect. [45:28] They think they have an idea. [45:30] But this is going to be something that they will remember forever. [45:33] Young, old, no matter where they are from, there's a lot of excitement and a little bit of hesitation [45:37] because a lot of people remember what happened and the roller coaster that happened a few years ago [45:42] with launch, no launch, no launch, no launch, until they finally got it off. [45:47] A historic day. [45:48] We are just 30 minutes away from liftoff. [45:51] Nick, thank you so much. [45:53] Let's bring in Cody Page. [45:54] She's a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University [45:57] and former director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative. [46:01] Cody, thank you so much for joining us. [46:03] Engineers are now working on an issue with a battery on the launch abort system. [46:08] What does that tell you? [46:11] This tells me that it's a space mission. [46:13] Space is very hard. [46:14] And we want to make sure that everything is right down to the battery, every sensor, [46:20] everything before we send our humans up into space. [46:23] So I'm still very positive about the launch and really excited about it. [46:30] And I think that this is part of what NASA does. [46:33] They troubleshoot. [46:34] They find solutions to all these problems. [46:37] And they get astronauts into space. [46:39] They certainly do. [46:39] And explain to our viewers why it's so important for humans to return to the moon. [46:45] The biggest reason we want humans to go back is because of these incredible computers [46:50] that we have in our heads, our brains. [46:53] When we are looking at the lunar surface, when we're in space ourselves, [46:58] we can see things that we cannot train a robot to look for. [47:02] They're things that we would never expect to have seen. [47:05] For instance, on one of the Apollo missions, one of the astronauts saw very unexpected orange dirt [47:12] on the surface of the moon. [47:13] This isn't something that we ever could have expected, and we didn't know that it was going to be there. [47:18] But this astronaut noticed it and flagged it, and this was something that we could then learn about the moon. [47:23] So that's why we want people to go back, our incredible brains and what we can learn there. [47:27] Yeah. [47:28] And we understand the mission will help NASA learn more about radiation in deep space. [47:33] What can they do with that information, and why is it critical? [47:36] In space, there is a lot more radiation than what we experience here on Earth. [47:41] We're protected by our atmosphere and by the magnetosphere. [47:43] As we get deeper into space, we are subject to incredible amounts of radiation all the time, [47:50] potential radiation coming from the sun. [47:53] And we want to be able to protect our astronauts from that radiation. [47:56] And the way we do that is by understanding the radiation better. [48:00] So a lot of the instruments that they have on this mission will tell us about the radiation [48:03] and give us details about how we can protect our astronauts [48:06] and eventually have a permanent human presence on the moon. [48:10] Incredible. [48:11] We will all be watching. [48:12] Thank you very much for your time, Professor. [48:14] Appreciate it. [48:15] Thank you. [48:16] Now let's bring in Jim Bell. [48:18] He's a professor of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State [48:22] and former president of the Planetary Society. [48:25] Thank you for joining us. [48:26] So no one under the age of 55 years old has ever witnessed what we are about to see here. [48:33] What will this moment mean for history? [48:36] It's a spectacular moment for history. [48:39] This is the first time that people will be traveling beyond low Earth orbit, right, [48:45] in more than 50 years. [48:47] And so just being able to see this happen, [48:51] to see astronauts head back into deep space for the first time, [48:55] I mean, I was a kid when they landed on the moon back in the late 60s and early 70s. [49:01] And, you know, these incredible heroic astronauts of ours are pathfinders, right? [49:08] They're on a test mission to loop around the moon. [49:11] They're not going to land on the moon, but they'll study the space environment. [49:15] They'll study the moon itself on the far side, [49:18] looking at places that have never been seen before with human eyes. [49:21] And they're kind of setting the stage, right, [49:24] for the next people to go back to the moon and the future missions, [49:27] and then hopefully someday on to Mars. [49:29] We are setting the stage. [49:31] And let's talk about the crew for a bit here. [49:33] We've got Reid Weissman. [49:35] He's the Artemis II commander. [49:36] Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot. [49:38] Christina Koch, mission specialist. [49:40] Jeremy Hansen, another mission specialist. [49:42] Talk about the makeup of this crew itself and why it's so important. [49:48] They all bring such unique perspectives to this mission. [49:53] Absolutely. [49:54] I mean, they've got incredible jobs to do. [49:57] Each of them plays a critical role in different parts of the mission. [50:02] And they've got, you know, engineering training. [50:04] They've got training in the technology involved, [50:07] and the computers involved, and the science that they're going to be doing. [50:10] They've worked with hundreds and hundreds of engineers and scientists back here on the Earth, [50:16] and doctors, by the way, as well. [50:18] They're all wired up because they are, in a sense, kind of guinea pigs going back into deep space [50:23] with modern medical instrumentation, very, very different than what the Apollo astronauts had 50 years ago. [50:30] So they're each bringing, you know, a special component to the mission. [50:34] You've talked about the firsts, you know, the first Canadian to go that far, [50:38] the first woman to go that far, the first African-American to go that far. [50:42] And they've been working together so closely for years. [50:45] They're trained for this moment, and they're heroes to all of us. [50:50] They really are. [50:50] And for someone like yourself who has studied space for so many years, [50:55] what does this mission mean to you? [50:56] Well, it's really exciting because, you know, these folks are setting the stage for people to go back to the moon, [51:05] to explore the moon, to eventually settle the moon. [51:08] You know, the moon is our first stepping stone out into the rest of the solar system. [51:12] Of course, we want to see NASA lead the way to get astronauts onto the surface of Mars, [51:17] and to study asteroids, and to really, you know, understand the worlds around us. [51:22] As we understand this incredible solar system of ours and these other places, [51:26] we learn more about our own planet. [51:28] You know, sustainability is so important in a rocket out in deep space. [51:32] We're going to bring all of that back to living on Earth. [51:36] Thank you so much for your insights, for sharing your experience. [51:40] And this is just an incredible moment that we are all witnessing this evening. [51:44] Thank you so much for your time. [51:45] I'm Stephanie Ramos. [51:48] Thank you to those watching on ABC News Live and National Geographic. [51:51] The Artemis 2 rocket just minutes away from liftoff on its historic mission to the moon. [51:57] Up next is ABC News' special network coverage with Lindsay Davis. [52:01] We are looking at launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. [52:12] NASA's Artemis 2 rocket just moments away from liftoff, [52:15] taking astronauts farther than they've ever gone before. [52:18] ABC News' special live coverage, Artemis 2, Mission to the Moon, begins right now. [52:24] Good day from ABC Space Headquarters in New York. [52:29] 10, 9. [52:31] We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other thing. [52:35] 4, 2, 3. [52:37] Not because they are easy. [52:38] 1, 0. [52:40] But because they are hard. [52:42] We have liftoff. [52:44] For the first time, man will go to the moon. [52:47] Roger. [52:48] Zero G and I feel fine. [52:50] Oh, that view is tremendous. [52:53] We rise together back to the moon and beyond. [52:57] That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. [53:02] Good evening, everyone. [53:09] I'm Lindsay Davis. [53:10] We are coming on the air because we are moments away from the historic launch of NASA's Artemis 2 mission. [53:16] The first crew journey around the moon in more than 50 years, taking humans farther into space than ever before. [53:24] The launch is set for 6.24 p.m. Eastern time. [53:27] The weather is cooperating. [53:29] And as we come on, NASA says the launch is a go. [53:32] You're looking live at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [53:37] The Space Launch System, or SLS, the most powerful ever to launch humans into space. [53:42] A 322-foot rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, plus two solid rocket boosters. [53:49] And at the top, the Orion spacecraft, where the astronauts will live and work and in which they will return to Earth. [53:56] Right now, the crew of four is already on board. [53:59] NASA Commander Reed Wiseman, NASA Pilot Victor Glover, NASA Mission Specialist Christina Cook, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. [54:09] They've been in quarantine for about two weeks now. [54:12] Earlier today, they observed a pre-launch tradition for American astronauts, a last-minute poker game that has to continue until the commander loses a hand. [54:21] The superstition getting rid of all the bad luck before launch. [54:24] After observing a quarantine of about two weeks, they suited up, donning the bright orange survival system suits that they'll wear for the launch. [54:32] The four emerging in public, sharing a final goodbye with their families, and boarding a transport vehicle that delivered them to the launch pad. [54:40] They're now waiting, strapped into their seats. [54:43] After lifting off, they'll orbit Earth for a day, then slingshot some 4,000 miles past the far side of the moon and around it, [54:50] before re-entering Earth's atmosphere and splashing down into the Pacific Ocean off of California. [54:56] NASA last aimed for the moon with the Apollo program in 1969. [55:01] Apollo 11 made the first historic landing. [55:05] Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot there. [55:08] 650 million people around the world watched the moment on live TV. [55:13] The final Apollo mission was Apollo 17 in 1972. [55:16] More than 50 years later, NASA's Artemis program has a more long-range goal to eventually build a permanent outpost on the moon. [55:25] Today's Artemis 2 mission will test the spacecraft, the rockets, and the life support systems that could make that vision a reality. [55:31] The excitement is building. [55:33] The countdown is underway. [55:35] And ABC's Gio Benitez is at the Kennedy Space Center for us. [55:39] Gio, how's it looking? [55:40] You know what, Lindsay, this is when I start feeling those butterflies, not because we're on the air around the world or perhaps even around the universe, [55:48] but because that countdown clock is now approaching 20 minutes. [55:52] And it is very exciting because this is when they're doing the final checks. [55:55] In a moment, we will find out from launch control if they vote to go or no go. [56:02] That is a critical moment because they go around the room asking each person if it is a go. [56:07] And if someone says no go, they have to stop and they have to figure out why. [56:11] So it's very, very important to make sure that everyone is safe. [56:15] Now, you are watching this on television, but at the same time, if you are in the southeast, you will be able to see this in person as well. [56:22] And I want to show you this map right now because it shows you within the first minute, [56:27] you're going to be able to see it in so much of the southeast and there, especially in Florida. [56:32] You're going to be able to see this as it goes out and exits Earth's atmosphere. [56:37] And if you are in Florida, I want you to grab your phone, open up Disney Plus or Hulu and open up ABC so that you can watch that live [56:44] and hear our commentary as you see that launch into space. [56:48] But when this launches into space, it will be historic because they will go farther than any other human has gone before. [56:55] They will eventually whip around the moon and then back to Earth. [56:59] The entire mission taking 10 days, 685,000 miles traveled. [57:05] Just incredible for these four incredibly smart astronauts who have spent their life working on this kind of mission, [57:13] perhaps even taking us one day to Mars and beyond. [57:17] That is the ultimate goal here. [57:18] Gio, your excitement is palpable. [57:20] Thanks so much. [57:21] We'll be going back to you, of course. [57:22] Weather is always a key variable in a successful launch. [57:26] And right now, conditions appear to be good. [57:28] WABC chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg monitoring the forecast for us. [57:32] And you say that if this doesn't happen, it likely won't be because of weather. [57:36] Mother Nature wants this to happen. [57:38] I mean, the stars are aligned for this trip around the moon. [57:41] There's no question about it. [57:42] And we look at the conditions. [57:43] And if you've been following Gio all day long, there was more cloud cover near the Kennedy Space Center [57:48] and even some few showers near the Kennedy Space Center. [57:50] And that has cleared off to the west. [57:53] And behind that, sinking air is inhibiting cloud cover. [57:56] So it's really perfect timing right now. [57:57] And you really need to check off all these weather guidelines. [58:00] No strong winds, no precipitation, no lightning in the area. [58:03] And also cumulus clouds. [58:05] There is some specific data with that, too. [58:07] You can see we've checked off the temperatures and the light winds and no rain chance. [58:11] But it's the partial cloudiness. [58:12] The clouds can't be that thick. [58:14] They can't be too close by. [58:16] And, of course, you can't have thunderstorm remnants. [58:18] We're really not worried about that. [58:19] So throughout the launch window, you're looking at prime temperatures in the 70s, [58:24] light wind, limited to no rain threat, and just some scattered clouds around right now. [58:28] So just even looking at the latest satellite, Lindsay, just a few scattered clouds. [58:31] I think we're going. [58:32] I don't think weather is the inhibitor. [58:33] And, of course, NASA has specific weather rules for a reason. [58:37] Tell us about what happened with Apollo 12. [58:38] So 1969 in November, no thunderstorms in the area. [58:42] It's saying, okay, we're good to go. [58:45] Launched the rocket, but it becomes a conductor, and the electrified cloud allows a discharge. [58:50] Lightning strikes twice. [58:51] Navigation problems, command module issues. [58:54] It was rectified, thankfully, but that changed everything in terms of the guidelines with lightning. [58:58] All right. [58:59] Thank you so much, Lee. [59:01] And we are still slated for a 624 liftoff after the engines ignite. [59:07] There will be several key events. [59:09] The first eight minutes, the most critical of the launch. [59:13] Seconds before the Artemis II countdown clock hits zero, the rocket's four engines ignite by the ignition of the two solid rocket boosters. [59:21] The nearly 6 million pound vehicle clears the launch pad. [59:26] And let's take a look. [59:26] The rocket then performs what's called a roll-and-pitch maneuver to align the craft with the intended flight path. [59:49] A little over a minute after liftoff, the vehicle reaches max Q, or maximum dynamic pressure. [59:56] This is the point where the air is hitting the rocket the hardest. [59:59] About two minutes in, the solid rocket boosters separate from the rocket and splash down in the Atlantic Ocean. [1:00:06] At around the eight-minute mark, it's time for main engine cutoff. [1:00:09] The rocket's four engines shut down for good, and the Orion separates from a bright orange rocket, which will splash down, too. [1:00:17] The capsule is then boosted into a higher orbit through a series of burns before separating from Orion. [1:00:23] The astronauts will then spend a day in orbit performing system checks and doing a flight demo before heading to the moon. [1:00:31] NASA has made remarkable advances in space science since the Apollo moon mission five decades ago. [1:00:37] ABC's Stephanie Ramos has a closer look at the rocket systems that will lift the Artemis astronauts into space and will sustain them during the flight. [1:00:46] Lindsay, let's start with the Space Launch System, or SLS. [1:00:49] The rocket is the most powerful rocket to carry humans into space. [1:00:54] On each side are the solid rocket boosters. [1:00:57] These two alone deliver 75 percent of the total thrust at liftoff. [1:01:01] This big orange tank in the center, that's the core stage. [1:01:04] It's the backbone of the entire rocket. [1:01:06] And at the bottom are four RS-25 engines. [1:01:09] Inside this part of the rocket are more than 730,000 pounds of supercooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. [1:01:17] Altogether, the rocket produces an astonishing 8.8 million pounds of thrust. [1:01:22] Moving up, you have the upper stage, or ICPS. [1:01:26] This engine will send the astronauts into a high-Earth orbit. [1:01:29] And here's where the crew lives, the Orion spacecraft, with its 330 cubic feet of cabin space for the four astronauts over a 10-day mission. [1:01:39] Attached to Orion is the service module, the workhorse behind the scenes. [1:01:43] Power, life support, propulsion, the service module handles all of it. [1:01:47] And its engine will push the crew on a path around the moon. [1:01:51] Finally, right at the top is the launch abort system. [1:01:54] If anything goes wrong during the ascent, this system fires in a fraction of a second, [1:01:59] pulling Orion and the crew away from the rocket to a safe distance before parachutes bring them back to Earth. [1:02:05] Lindsay. [1:02:05] All so exciting, Stephanie. Thank you. [1:02:08] Joining us now is former astronaut Susan Kilrain, an aerospace engineer, [1:02:12] a U.S. Navy officer who piloted two space shuttle missions. [1:02:15] So, Susan, thanks so much for joining us. [1:02:17] Take us inside these final minutes before launch. [1:02:20] What are the four astronauts on board doing and feeling right now? [1:02:24] Well, time is getting close. [1:02:26] So, they're actually now hyper-focused on analyzing all the data that they have in front of them. [1:02:33] Because, you know, they have to be prepared to react in emergencies. [1:02:37] And so, they're just not along for the ride. [1:02:39] They have to be prepared. [1:02:41] So, if they've been chattering and even taking a nap, they're awake now. [1:02:45] And joining us now is astrophysicist Hakeem Alushahi. [1:02:51] Thank you so much for joining us. [1:02:54] Give us a sense, because we have already been here before more than 50 years ago. [1:02:58] Yes. [1:02:59] Why is it so important to return now? [1:03:02] There are so many reasons. [1:03:05] The technologies are new. [1:03:07] Things are moving ahead. [1:03:08] So, there are pertinent issues here on Earth that have to do with resources, that have to do with exploration. [1:03:15] There's questions we need to ask. [1:03:17] And we want to have a permanent presence on the moon. [1:03:20] There are geopolitical implications. [1:03:22] We have China. [1:03:23] We have independent agencies, companies trying to move in now. [1:03:28] So, this exhibits technological leadership. [1:03:31] Dr. Olushahi, thank you so much. [1:03:33] And we want to just take a moment to listen in to launch control. [1:03:38] CCL. [1:03:39] Yes, sir. [1:03:40] Reconfigure ARS primary loop ISO valves. [1:03:42] Copy. [1:03:44] That's in work. [1:03:45] And CDR OTC or on Earth-1. [1:03:50] ARS loop ISO valves are being closed at this time. [1:03:55] Integrity copies. [1:03:59] NGDLP. [1:04:01] Co. [1:04:01] Yes, I had a discussion with CIS and with MER Manager regarding the observation the CIS had a few minutes ago. [1:04:06] Susan, you can hear what we're hearing. [1:04:08] Give us a sense of what this all means. [1:04:10] In 2025, MER Manager has had a chance to review the findings, and they do not have any constraints from either a CIS or MER Manager perspective. [1:04:21] Yes, they're going through their normal procedures. [1:04:23] They're stepping through all the procedures that have to be done before they get the command to go up into space. [1:04:30] And they're polling the room at the same time. [1:04:32] Everybody's giving a go. [1:04:34] So this is the final step. [1:04:35] Busy, busy time, especially for the commander and the pilot. [1:04:41] Dr. Olushe, I want to bring you back in here. [1:04:44] This time around, it's not about flags and footprints. [1:04:48] What does this mission test? [1:04:50] Yes, this mission tests sustainability. [1:04:53] Ultimately, we want to get up to a cadence where we can redo it over and over again. [1:04:57] We want to have a permanent presence on the moon. [1:05:00] At first, we were just illustrating we can do it. [1:05:03] Now we're setting up infrastructure, and we're going to take advantage of it and drive economy. [1:05:07] The Artemis launch will certainly be a spectacle. [1:05:10] Hundreds of thousands are gathered right now along Florida's Space Coast to watch it live. [1:05:15] ABC's Mola Lange is with the crowds at Veterans Memorial Park in Titusville, Florida. [1:05:21] What's the atmosphere like there, Mola? [1:05:26] Well, Lindsay, it's electric. [1:05:27] You know, we're here with a few thousand people. [1:05:30] These crowds have been growing throughout the day. [1:05:32] Folks want this beautiful vantage point. [1:05:35] Kennedy Space Center just across the Indian River Lagoon there. [1:05:38] Folks getting this vantage point to the launch and to history. [1:05:42] That's why so many people have come out here to witness history. [1:05:46] You know, we've talked to folks who were old enough to remember the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. [1:05:52] I talked to two brothers, one from Kentucky, one from Alabama, who made the trip over here. [1:05:56] They say they remember being fascinated, being captivated as kids by those Apollo missions. [1:06:02] And this was a chance for them to kind of reconnect to that fascination and that wonder. [1:06:08] We talked to people who were not alive during the Apollo missions of the 60s and 70s who wanted to kind of be a part of this new chapter of NASA history, [1:06:17] bringing their kids out here to create some long-lasting, lifelong memories, Lindsay. [1:06:22] To Mola, because anyone who is under the age of 55 years old has never witnessed this kind of moment before. [1:06:32] So certainly magical. [1:06:34] And, Susan, we want to bring you back in here because it's our understanding right here. [1:06:37] You see that the clock has stopped at T-minus 10 minutes to go. [1:06:42] The crew is doing a hold. [1:06:44] What do you imagine could be happening right now? [1:06:48] Well, Lindsay, I'm not 100% sure that they cleared up all the issues with the battery sensor, not sensor, [1:06:56] if they've gotten approval up through the chain of command to go, or possibly there is another issue that they're looking at. [1:07:04] But this is a planned hold time. [1:07:06] There is nothing wrong with holding at this time. [1:07:10] They can hold all the way up until 10 minutes before the two-hour window closes. [1:07:18] So it's still going. [1:07:19] So you were referencing a battery issue. [1:07:23] Apparently there are two batteries. [1:07:24] One battery was showing high voltage. [1:07:26] They were troubleshooting that earlier, trying to determine if it was a sensor issue or a bad battery. [1:07:31] Apparently that has been resolved. [1:07:33] But, Susan, at this point we're hearing that there's a transponder issue. [1:07:37] What could that mean? [1:07:38] You know, transponders are typically the way that they know where it is at any given time, airspeed, altitude, that sort of thing. [1:07:47] And so my guess is, and this is just a guess, there would be a backup to that as well. [1:07:53] So they'll have to go into discussions. [1:07:56] Is it really a problem? [1:07:58] Is it a problem that we can live with? [1:08:00] You know, but is it also something that affects reentry and splashdown? [1:08:05] So I don't know the exact transponder that they're referring to, but they have an hour and 50 minutes to figure it out. [1:08:14] And so are you feeling confident? [1:08:16] Obviously you don't know exactly what the issue is, but a little while ago you suggested that you felt it would still be all systems to go. [1:08:24] Yeah, I still feel like they're going to talk through this and work it out. [1:08:29] All right. [1:08:29] Thank you so much, Susan. [1:08:30] We'll be coming back to you in a little bit. [1:08:32] Dr. Olushe, you wanted to just ask you, what makes Artemis 2 different from Apollo? [1:08:37] Well, it's a very different mission. [1:08:39] Nowadays, we are now trying to take advantage of what the moon offers. [1:08:44] Those are opportunities for expanding our economy. [1:08:48] There are opportunities for exploration. [1:08:50] And we want a permanent base that can be a staging area where we can go deeper into space. [1:08:55] We aspire to mine asteroids. [1:08:58] We aspire to have a permanent presence on Mars. [1:09:01] And who knows what future generations will do, but this is that first step in humans becoming a true space-faring society. [1:09:09] And, Gio, same question to you. [1:09:10] What makes this so unique from past space exploration? [1:09:15] Okay. [1:09:15] Okay. [1:09:16] Perfect. [1:09:19] Gio, not sure if you were able to hear me just then, but just your same question to you. [1:09:23] What makes this unique from past space exploration? [1:09:26] You know, one of the things, Lindsay, is that actually flight termination system, and they were actually looking at issues with that a little earlier today. [1:09:35] They also said that they resolved that. [1:09:37] But when we're talking about the space shuttle that so many of us grew up watching, what was so unique about that is that you had this spacecraft that was attached to a rocket on the side. [1:09:47] You'll notice right there, and you're looking at Artemis right there, you actually see the rocket with the capsule on top. [1:09:54] That's really an old system, right? [1:09:56] And the reason why it's so safe and tried and true is because if there is an emergency, you can actually hit that abort button, and you can separate the spacecraft from the rocket before that rocket explodes and get everyone safely away from it. [1:10:12] So that's really, really critical to have because with space shuttle, you didn't have that kind of option. [1:10:17] It was attached to the rocket. [1:10:19] It made something like that very, very difficult. [1:10:21] This is a much safer system, a much safer system for these astronauts. [1:10:26] So they were looking at that flight termination system because also what's important here is that they need to make sure that this rocket goes where it's intended to go because if it starts going in another direction, they need to be able to self-destruct it safely. [1:10:39] Lindsay? [1:10:39] All right, Gio, thanks so much. [1:10:41] And it does sound like they are going to go. [1:10:44] We do want to listen in. [1:10:46] The flight director is pulling all the people in launch control to see if it is, in fact, all systems that go. [1:10:51] Let's listen. [1:10:51] Safety council is go. [1:10:53] LPE. [1:10:54] LPE is go. [1:10:56] RTD. [1:10:57] RTD is go. [1:10:58] Houston flight. [1:10:59] Houston flight is go. [1:11:01] ROC. [1:11:02] ROC is go. [1:11:03] And CDR. [1:11:04] Is go. [1:11:07] Copy that. [1:11:08] Thank you, Reid. [1:11:08] And launch director, NTD, our launch team is ready to proceed at this time. [1:11:13] All right, NTD, I copy all. [1:11:16] At this time, I'll perform my poll. [1:11:20] Attention on the net. [1:11:21] This is the launch director performing the final poll for launch, verify no constraints, and go for launch. [1:11:29] EGF. [1:11:30] EGF, program chief engineer. [1:11:32] Artemis chief engineers are go. [1:11:33] Copy. [1:11:34] Thank you. [1:11:36] EGF, chief safety officer. [1:11:39] The Artemis CSOs are go. [1:11:41] Copy. [1:11:42] Thank you. [1:11:43] Range weather. [1:11:44] Launch weather is go. [1:11:46] Thank you, LWO and Artemis, MMT chair. [1:11:52] MMTs go. [1:11:54] Thank you, John. [1:11:56] And integrity launch director. [1:12:03] TLT. [1:12:05] Thank you, Charlie. [1:12:06] This is Victor. [1:12:07] We are going for our family. [1:12:12] This is Christina. [1:12:13] We are going for our teammates. [1:12:14] We are going for our teammates. [1:12:14] MF2. [1:12:16] It sounded like we just heard the pilot, Victor Glover's voice there. [1:12:19] Susan, I want to bring you back in here. [1:12:21] As a former NASA astronaut, just give us a sense of what the astronauts are doing in these, the final moments before launch. [1:12:29] I copy that. [1:12:30] Well, they just are hearing the most magical word. [1:12:33] Everybody is reporting in go for launch. [1:12:36] So time will actually compress for them. [1:12:41] The next few minutes are going to go very quickly once they start that clock back up. [1:12:45] You are the youngest person, one of only three women to pilot the space shuttle. [1:12:53] What's your reaction to seeing the first woman operate this mission? [1:12:57] You know, it's great to see, one, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson being the launch control director. [1:13:04] It's great to see Christina Cook being on the mission and being the first woman to go soon. [1:13:12] But really, I think that the crew said it best, that we're looking forward to a time when we're all just astronauts. [1:13:19] We're not black astronauts, white astronauts, women or men. [1:13:23] We're just astronauts. [1:13:24] Fair enough, Susan. [1:13:25] We want to listen in one more time. [1:13:27] Start and verify recordings of our Orion cameras. [1:13:30] Copy. [1:13:31] Okay. [1:13:31] Well, there you heard it. [1:13:33] RSR, NTD. [1:13:34] RSR. [1:13:35] They're getting ready to start terminal count. [1:13:37] And AR rotation enable at this time, please. [1:13:39] It's currently at T minus 10 minutes. [1:13:41] Once we wrap up this last bit of work, we're going to start that clock. [1:13:50] Copy that. [1:13:50] Thank you. [1:13:52] Integrity crew, close and lock visors. [1:14:08] Gio, give us a sense as we await the clock to start the countdown again. [1:14:14] How is the crowd responding in this moment? [1:14:16] It was transitory. [1:14:17] Well, Lindsay, I can tell you the moment we heard all those go, go, go, every time we heard that, [1:14:23] we heard the crowd cheer here because they are excited. [1:14:27] A lot of these folks who are here with me at the Kennedy Space Center have been working on this for years. [1:14:33] And so they are very excited to see this launch. [1:14:35] The last time we saw this launch was actually back in 2022. [1:14:39] There was nobody on board. [1:14:41] This time, there are four incredible astronauts who are on board, and they're going to be going off into space. [1:14:47] And so everyone here is incredibly excited to see that happen. [1:14:50] 4 p.m. Eastern time. [1:14:51] Dr. Oleshay, how is the moon really a proving ground for Mars? [1:14:56] Because we know there are a number of stages here, and this may be step number two in a multitude. [1:15:02] Absolutely. [1:15:03] So living outside of the Earth's atmosphere and outside of its magnetic, protective magnetosphere is a big deal. [1:15:09] Living under radiation, living on the lunar environment with that incredibly difficult dust you have to deal with on the lunar surface [1:15:16] are just challenges that you cannot simulate very well here on Earth. [1:15:21] So they have to go there. [1:15:23] We have to put boots on the ground. [1:15:24] We've got to do the real experiment. [1:15:25] And then hopefully, living on the surface of Mars should be a little easier than living on the surface of moon [1:15:32] because it does have an atmosphere. [1:15:34] UCL, time estimate? [1:15:35] You will likely remember, in 1970, Gil Scott-Heron wrote a really scathing poem about the inequality, [1:15:44] about essentially saying, why spend billions of dollars going and leaving this planet [1:15:49] when people are not able to pay their rent and struggling paying medical bills? [1:15:55] Back here on Earth. [1:15:56] A number of people really have that question. [1:16:00] How do you answer that? [1:16:01] Well, first thing I want to say is I saw Gil Scott-Heron live at the Kimbles East in Oakland many years ago, [1:16:06] and that was amazing. [1:16:07] But, you know, that is a question that comes up often. [1:16:09] It can look like a waste of money. [1:16:11] But in reality, it is an investment in our future. [1:16:14] What we see is that those nations that invest in cutting-edge technologies and cutting-edge science, [1:16:20] they are ultimately the winners. [1:16:22] When Albert Einstein won his Nobel Prize, when he described the photoelectric effect, [1:16:27] he couldn't tell you that in the future this was going to result in the smartphone, right? [1:16:32] And in much the same way, as we undertake these endeavors, which are an investment, [1:16:36] they do return to America and to the nation in terms of technologies, in terms of new economies, [1:16:43] then those new generations are going to reap benefits that we can't even imagine. [1:16:47] And the other thing is how economics works. [1:16:49] It's not exactly the case that if you spend money, you're taking it from somewhere else, right? [1:16:54] We see that. [1:16:55] Big pots of money comes up when needs come up. [1:16:58] But this is just less, NASA's budget is less than 1% of the federal government, [1:17:02] and it is an investment that pays off big time. [1:17:05] All right. [1:17:05] And we're clear from cut-edge. [1:17:06] Give us a sense, too, because when we look back to the Apollo mission in the 60s, [1:17:10] and that was, as you know, a very unsettled time. [1:17:14] We believe in the meantime they are about to resume the clock in a moment. [1:17:18] But it was a very unsettled time, obviously, in the 60s, as it is today. [1:17:22] Some people say that 1968, and if we can see the clock, maybe we can take a live look, [1:17:28] because they are now resuming the countdown. [1:17:31] And, Gio, I imagine there was a lot of excitement when that clock started ticking down again. [1:17:37] Well, that is exactly how I knew it was happening, because everyone started cheering. [1:17:42] There are people who are clapping still here, and they just keep coming. [1:17:45] They keep coming, because, again, these are all folks here at the Kennedy Space Center [1:17:49] who have worked on this for so many years to get Orion into space. [1:17:54] Because, remember, you're talking about this monumental mission that eventually could create a lunar base [1:18:00] and have that base serve as sort of a pit stop to the rest of the universe, including, perhaps, even Mars. [1:18:06] That is years away, but this is the beginning, and we could see that history being made [1:18:11] within nine minutes and 11 seconds right there. [1:18:14] Nine minutes. [1:18:16] The countdown resumes. [1:18:18] And, Dr. Alushayi, as I was mentioning earlier, as we know, [1:18:21] President Trump is expected to address the American people tonight about the war. [1:18:27] Similarly, in the 60s, we were in a time of war. [1:18:31] Many people, when we went to the moon for the first time, it was an unsettling time. [1:18:36] But many people describe that launch of Apollo 8 as a unifying moment in the country. [1:18:42] Do you see some parallels between then and now? [1:18:45] Well, I do, but I have a biased look, right? [1:18:48] So I lead the nation's oldest national astronomy organization, the Astro Society, [1:18:53] and we're leading this Astronomy 250 celebration of 250 years of American astronomy in space. [1:18:59] So I'm talking to the enthusiasts at all times. [1:19:03] But at the same time, we do have challenges here in our nation and globally. [1:19:08] And that's the thing about us humans, right? [1:19:10] While awful things are happening, amazing things are happening. [1:19:13] And this is a part of that amazingness that shows you what we're capable of when we work together. [1:19:19] So let's keep doing more of this. [1:19:22] Let's keep investing in our future. [1:19:24] Including today's launch, this Artemis II mission will last for 10 days. [1:19:28] The centerpiece of it, that figure-eight slingshot move around the dark side of the moon. [1:19:34] I do want to look and listen. [1:19:36] The astronauts took to... [1:19:39] After about a day in orbit, the engine on Orion's service module performs the critical translunar injection burn, [1:19:45] a rocket boost that will send the astronauts on a free-return trajectory toward the moon. [1:19:51] This figure-eight flight path uses the Earth and moon's gravity to take the astronauts around the moon and back home, [1:19:58] a journey of more than 230,000 miles. [1:20:01] It takes about four days to reach the moon, culminating with a lunar flyby. [1:20:06] The crew will be the first people to see the far side of the moon in more than 50 years. [1:20:11] NASA expects a communications blackout during this period. [1:20:14] Earth's gravity then pulls Orion back during its four-day trip home. [1:20:19] Orion is equipped with a heat shield that keeps the crew safe from re-entry temperatures that can reach 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. [1:20:27] The Orion enters Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour, [1:20:32] using parachutes and the drag of the atmosphere to slow its descent to less than 20 miles per hour. [1:20:37] The 10-day mission ends with Orion and crew splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. [1:20:45] And the crew access arm has been retracted. [1:20:49] That's what we saw just a few moments ago. [1:20:51] That's the way that the astronauts come and go from the spacecraft. [1:20:55] And we have mentioned four astronauts on board. [1:20:59] Reed Wiseman, former NASA chief astronaut, U.S. Navy test pilot. [1:21:04] He has spent 165 days in space before. [1:21:08] Sadly, his wife passed away years ago from cancer. [1:21:12] And now, as he leaves for the next 10 days, he leaves his young girls behind. [1:21:19] Victor J. Glover, Jr., NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy captain. [1:21:23] He's actually will be the first black man to go to the moon and beyond. [1:21:30] Christina Cook, Artemis II mission specialist. [1:21:33] She holds the record for the longest single space flight by a woman. [1:21:37] She spent 328 days in space just shy of a year. [1:21:42] Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, Canadian space agency astronaut. [1:21:48] He will be the first non-American to go to the moon. [1:21:54] He has joked that if something goes wrong, NASA will have to blame Canada. [1:22:00] Joe, what's the clock telling us right now? [1:22:03] Oh, five minutes, 16 seconds. [1:22:07] This is getting real, Lindsay. [1:22:09] Five minutes away. [1:22:11] And that's just incredible. [1:22:12] You know, one of the other things that's really awesome about these astronauts, [1:22:16] because I've been able to speak with a lot of them, is that, for the lack of a better phrase, [1:22:20] they're really down to earth. [1:22:22] Aside from being so incredibly smart, they are so down to earth. [1:22:26] They are real, amazing people. [1:22:28] And one of the things they all tell me, all astronauts tell me, [1:22:31] is that the moment they get up in space and they look out that window [1:22:35] and they see that brilliant crystal blue ball of earth, [1:22:39] they see us all as one. [1:22:42] And that's where it really hits them. [1:22:44] And it really resonates that we are one in terms of being one human race. [1:22:49] It's just quite incredible what they say. [1:22:51] They call it a spiritual experience to be up there and see the earth like that. [1:22:56] And so, as you said, Christina Koch, 328 days in space, [1:23:00] an incredibly long time in space already. [1:23:03] You are talking about people who are truly space vets, [1:23:06] and they are going up there now to do this incredibly monumental task. [1:23:11] And, Reid Wiseman, to your point, Gio, talked about being down on earth [1:23:16] and looking up at the moon in recent nights and thinking, [1:23:20] the next time I see the same sight from the ground, I will have been there. [1:23:26] And you just have to imagine, Susan, that this moment is super exciting. [1:23:31] You've been there before. [1:23:32] Kind of walk us through the nerves, the excitement, just the magnitude of the moment. [1:23:38] It is pure excitement. [1:23:42] I don't recall any nerves. [1:23:44] Jeremy, especially, this is his first flight. [1:23:47] So, this is his first opportunity to go into space. [1:23:50] And pretty soon, everything is going to become on internal power. [1:23:56] They will no longer be connected to external power. [1:23:59] And then you've got a few minutes to go. [1:24:02] And we're looking at pictures of you, Susan, when you were in space. [1:24:07] Of course, astronaut is a Greek word for star, sailor. [1:24:11] Just walk us through what's going to happen. [1:24:14] Susan, we know that it's just going to take eight minutes, Susan, for them to get into orbit. [1:24:19] Give us a little preview of what we're about to see here. [1:24:24] Okay, you're going to see the engine flight. [1:24:27] And for those down at the Kennedy Space Center, they're going to feel it. [1:24:32] Six seconds later, those rockets are going to fire [1:24:35] once the computer has determined that the engines are working well. [1:24:39] And then off they go. [1:24:40] And it's almost like it levitates off the pad. [1:24:44] It's not like it zooms off the pad. [1:24:46] It basically levitates off the pad. [1:24:50] And then it quickly gets up within a minute. [1:24:54] Supersonic speeds. [1:24:55] And in two minutes, the rockets are going to come off. [1:24:58] And it goes up to, I think, four Gs to get to 17,500 miles an hour. [1:25:04] Less, almost approaching the two-minute mark. [1:25:07] Just want to listen in for a moment. [1:25:09] Lower stage of the rocket to internal, taking ground power away. [1:25:14] And now going to battery power. [1:25:19] TLS is go for upper stage to internal power. [1:25:25] All right, power is removed from the rocket's upper stage, the ICPS, [1:25:30] and it's been switched to battery. [1:25:31] Same milestone for the lower core stage, coming up at T-minus 1 minute and 30 seconds. [1:25:36] Right now, the four-person Artemis II crew is 248,000 miles away from the moon. [1:25:43] And if all goes well, they will fly by it in six days. [1:25:51] TLS is go for core stage to internal power. [1:25:55] All right, there's the rocket's core stage, which houses three flight computers, is now on its own power. [1:26:05] There's no more hold time because there's no more margin on these batteries. [1:26:08] So we would have to recycle back to T-minus 10 to recharge if we had a hold. [1:26:21] One minute. [1:26:23] Right now, the rocket does not know what the T-zero is. [1:26:25] But coming up at T-minus 33 seconds, control shifts from the ground launch sequencer [1:26:30] to the rocket's onboard autonomous launch sequencer, or ALS. [1:26:34] The rocket will count itself down, but honor any holds that could come from the ground. [1:26:40] Now, shortly after liftoff, Houston will take control of the rocket, [1:26:43] and my colleague, Gary Jordan, will take over commentary. [1:26:48] GLS, go for your left. [1:26:50] Great call out. [1:26:51] The rocket is on its own. [1:26:53] Four brave explorers ready to ride the most powerful rocket NASA has ever launched. [1:27:04] Sound suppression water is flowing. [1:27:06] And here we go. [1:27:10] 10, 9, 8, 7. [1:27:14] RS-25 engines. [1:27:18] 3, 2, 1. [1:27:20] Booster ignition. [1:27:22] And liftoff. [1:27:24] The crew of Artemis II now bound for the moon. [1:27:27] Humanity's next great voyage begins. [1:27:30] Good roll. [1:27:35] Roger. [1:27:38] Roll. [1:27:41] Houston now controlling the flight of Integrity on the Artemis II mission around the moon. [1:27:49] Integrity, AMT-5. [1:27:54] Time passing 30 seconds. [1:27:58] Integrity passes the alternate Mico. [1:28:00] Target milestone. [1:28:01] Mission control Houston seeing good performance. [1:28:03] The space launch system course stage. [1:28:06] Integrity, 3 miles in altitude. [1:28:09] Traveling more than 1,200 miles per hour. [1:28:28] Humanity's next great voyage begins. [1:28:31] We just heard it here. [1:28:33] The baton has been passed from launch control in Florida to mission control in Houston. [1:28:39] Gio, give us a sense of what you're seeing and feeling on the ground there. [1:28:44] Lindsay, I cannot look away, quite frankly. [1:28:47] I cannot look away because this is just so spectacular. [1:28:50] You are talking about a spacecraft that has just made the entire ground here just shake. [1:28:56] It vibrates up your body. [1:28:58] I always tell people, make sure your feet are on the ground. [1:29:02] Make sure that you are feeling it. [1:29:03] And we are seeing a gorgeous, gorgeous liftoff here. [1:29:07] There is not a cloud in the sky. [1:29:09] All of Florida at this point should have been able to see that launch and still see this [1:29:14] out in the sky just as you're seeing it right there on TV right now. [1:29:19] It's truly incredible. [1:29:20] The sounds you feel. [1:29:22] The emotion you feel as that vibration moves through your body. [1:29:27] It's quite incredible, Lindsay. [1:29:28] A mission with so much promise. [1:29:30] You see the faces there, all eyes looking upward, capturing this moment. [1:29:36] The rocket boosters are about to separate. [1:29:39] They have just separated. [1:29:43] What a day for humanity and space exploration, Dr. Olusheye. [1:29:47] Oh, my goodness. [1:29:49] I was holding my breath. [1:29:51] I'm always both excited and scared during a launch. [1:29:55] This is spectacular. [1:29:56] I wish I was there. [1:29:57] No one really expects to be able to bear witness to something like this. [1:30:02] As I said earlier, if you're under the age of 55, you haven't seen it. [1:30:06] What does it mean to you to see this? [1:30:08] Well, this is a new frontier. [1:30:10] We are now going back to that frontier of the moon. [1:30:14] We are a new America. [1:30:15] We are a new planet Earth. [1:30:17] And now this is the next step. [1:30:19] This is the very beginning. [1:30:20] And hopefully this will become a common occurrence. [1:30:24] 250,000-mile trip that they are about to take to get to the moon. [1:30:31] Susan, give us a sense of your reaction here. [1:30:35] I think it was picture perfect. [1:30:37] It couldn't have been any better. [1:30:40] They've still got a few minutes before main engine cutoff when they get in orbit. [1:30:46] But so far, everything's looking perfect. [1:30:51] And Dr. Ariane Anderson, I want to bring you in, if you can hear me. [1:30:57] Give us a sense of the physiological changes that the crew is going through in this moment. [1:31:02] We see the Salem board stand. [1:31:06] And Houston has you loud and clear on Tidors at the common line. [1:31:09] They put Orion back in their seats, which is part of the reason that they lay down flat when they load into the Orion capsule. [1:31:16] And then once they reach that MECO, that main engine cutoff, they'll be waiting. [1:31:20] And their bodies will start adapting over the next few hours and the next few days to be better prepared to live and work in space. [1:31:27] And talk to us about the medical system that's on board, Orion, and the health medical research that they have. [1:31:35] Well, first, I do want to take a listen in again. [1:31:47] Doctor, I want to bring you back in there. [1:31:49] Same question to you. [1:31:50] The medical system on board on Orion and the health medical research that they have access to as well. [1:31:57] Well, at the cornerstone of this mission really is looking at how the human being integrates into a larger engineering system like a rocket ship. [1:32:04] So a lot of the systems on the rockets, they behave predictably. [1:32:09] We can test them to failure. [1:32:11] But the human being often are prone to failure randomly. [1:32:14] Tonight I could go home and have appendicitis. [1:32:18] But then we also are resilient and innovative and creative. [1:32:22] And so the big point of this mission is really how our human systems, how the life support systems help support our crew [1:32:29] and make sure that this vehicle is the workforce we need to do as we push further and further to the moon and further into space. [1:32:36] For integrity, three engine prep. [1:32:41] Integrity, of course, the name that the crew actually gave their spacecraft. [1:32:46] Five minutes, 20 seconds of mission elapsed time into the Artemis II mission. [1:32:50] At this point, three good main engines are all that's needed to carry integrity to a nominal main engine cutoff target. [1:32:56] Though at this time we're seeing four good engines here in Mission Control Houston. [1:32:59] Integrity, 75 miles in altitude, 330 miles downrange, approaching 10,000 miles per hour. [1:33:08] 10,000 miles per hour. [1:33:11] We just saw a few fist pumps and, of course, applause there on the ground. [1:33:15] And that capsule is the size of two minivans. [1:33:20] So you have four people who are going to be spending the next 10 days. [1:33:24] Of course, there's a little more space, actually, because no gravity in there. [1:33:28] You can actually kind of float around above. [1:33:34] Susan, I understand that it's typical for these missions for you to bring a little stuffed animal. [1:33:41] And I understand that they have a little plushie that was actually designed by a second grader, a plushie toy named Rise, actually. [1:33:50] And it is the official zero-g indicator, an object that basically is designed to indicate to the crew when they're able to float because, of course, they are strapped in. [1:34:02] Did you have something similar like that? [1:34:04] So you kind of wait to see that stuffed animal float to get a sense that you have reached the official zero-g. [1:34:11] It's two seconds into the flight. [1:34:13] Lindsay, we did not. [1:34:15] And I don't know when that became popular. [1:34:18] But as soon as the engine's cut off, even though you're strapped in, you float into the strap. [1:34:25] And so you know it instantly. [1:34:26] Mission elapsed time, throttling down as we approach the abort once-around option, milestone at the 7-minute, 30-second mark. [1:34:40] And we are about to hear main engine cutoff or MECO. [1:34:43] 650 miles downrange, traveling more than 15,000 miles per hour. [1:34:50] The window is now open for an abort once-around option that would target splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, still following nominal ascent at this time. [1:35:06] Dr. Olushe, give us an understanding of once they arrive at the moon in several more days, as we're hearing now, they're about to have the engine cut off in 10 seconds. [1:35:27] They may not even have to really use their engines because a lot of this, this slingshot maneuver, as we're describing, a lot of it, the pull of the gravity from the moon will bring them back. [1:35:38] Yes, when you are a physics student, sometimes you take a class called orbital mechanics, and what you learn is that motion in space is not like motion here on the surface of the Earth. [1:35:48] You actually are doing orbits no matter where you're going. [1:35:55] You see the same on board, Stan. [1:36:02] Listening in for the clues to see where we are right now. [1:36:07] We have a nominal main engine cutoff heading in the right trajectory on the way to swing around the moon. [1:36:12] The core stage has separated, done its job. [1:36:15] The space launch system upper stage, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, or ICPS, still attached to the Orion spacecraft. [1:36:22] Susan, it sounds like this has been a textbook launch. [1:36:25] Everything has gone exactly as planned. [1:36:31] That's exactly right, Lindsay. [1:36:32] It was textbook. [1:36:35] Dr. Anderson, I want to bring you back in here. [1:36:39] I understand that you just returned from a Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, trying to understand how to survive in Mars, because that could be the ultimate step here that this mission is heading us toward. [1:36:56] What did that entail? [1:36:59] Yeah, so we have a course at the University of Colorado where we take engineering students, and we teach them kind of the fundamentals of medicine, [1:37:07] and how that might apply in a spaceflight environment. [1:37:10] We believe that the solutions to a lot of the challenges around human health in spaceflight are going to require medical operations, [1:37:19] they're going to require clinicians, and they're going to require engineers. [1:37:22] And so our goal is to get folks together, put them through complex simulations, and start working the problem, [1:37:28] and figuring out how we can keep people healthy and happy and productive on the moon or Mars. [1:37:33] What are some possible medical advances in particular that could ultimately result from a mission like this? [1:37:40] Yeah, yeah, certainly. [1:37:41] I mean, I think we want to be sure that this vehicle performs the way we expect. [1:37:47] You know, one thing that people keep talking about is radiation. [1:37:51] The radiation environment outside of the Earth's atmosphere and outside of the Earth's orbit is much higher. [1:37:57] And so we want to better understand how high energy particles might affect human beings. [1:38:04] And that can translate back to therapeutics and approaches to human health back here on Earth. [1:38:10] And, of course, Dr. Olushea, you were mentioning earlier that there is this geopolitical race. [1:38:16] Give us a sense of why we are trying to get back to the moon before China, for example. [1:38:22] Yeah, you have China. [1:38:23] You have the European Space Agency. [1:38:25] You have a lot of private companies that are setting their sights on the moon. [1:38:28] But yet and still, NASA is still the leader. [1:38:31] And this is a demonstration of NASA's technical leadership. [1:38:35] But one thing I also want to mention is we went to a visualization. [1:38:38] And conspiracy theorists have hit on the fact that we get video close to ground, but then we go to a visualization in space. [1:38:45] And that's because there isn't a second camera up there to look at the spacecraft. [1:38:49] So it is not a conspiracy. [1:38:51] It is the best you can do. [1:38:53] That is confirmed. [1:38:56] We also have the visors are confirmed. [1:38:59] Susan, what are you watching for as a former NASA astronaut as you're watching these pictures? [1:39:05] They're launching entry suit. [1:39:06] You know, I'm looking towards the next steps. [1:39:09] So the next big one is the solar arrays deploying. [1:39:13] And if they don't deploy, they don't go anywhere. [1:39:16] So they come back to Earth. [1:39:19] And, you know, so every step of the way, there's a burn coming up soon to circularize their low Earth orbit before they go into higher Earth orbit. [1:39:29] I want to bring in historian Jim Bell, professor at Arizona State University, the School of Earth and Space Exploration. [1:39:37] Thanks so much for joining us on this momentous occasion, Professor. [1:39:41] Professor, you've talked before about this being a dress rehearsal at full scale. [1:39:46] What do you mean by that? [1:39:48] Well, nobody has gone beyond lower Earth orbit for more than 50 years. [1:39:55] So this is this crew, this amazing heroic crew. [1:39:59] I still got goosebumps. [1:40:02] They are pathfinders, right? [1:40:04] They're pathfinders for the astronauts that are going to go back to the surface of the moon. [1:40:08] You may hear pathfinders for the astronauts who are going to go on to Mars eventually. [1:40:13] So it really is historic. [1:40:15] Of course, we heard from Susan earlier saying it. [1:40:19] At one point, we're looking forward to the day when this is just about humans. [1:40:23] But, of course, this crew does represent a much more diverse humanity than Apollo did. [1:40:29] You have the first woman, first person of color, first non-American to travel the lunar distance. [1:40:35] What does that mean to you? [1:40:37] Well, look, I mean, these are incredible, heroic professionals, right? [1:40:43] They're scientists. [1:40:44] They're engineers. [1:40:45] They're, you know, heavily trained individuals. [1:40:48] They're representatives of the entire planet heading out to beyond our planet, out to our nearer celestial neighbor. [1:40:57] So I'm incredibly proud. [1:40:58] All of us are incredibly proud of the work that they're doing. [1:41:01] And the crew of the thousands of engineers and financiers and managers, administrators supporting them. [1:41:08] It's really amazing. [1:41:09] And I want to bring in Cody Page, an engineer, professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia. [1:41:16] Your reaction, Cody, as you watch this? [1:41:21] I'm so inspired, tearing up. [1:41:24] I feel like I'm witnessing history. [1:41:27] This is such an exciting moment for all of us. [1:41:30] I'm, as a woman in engineering and I'm a Canadian, I feel especially attached to the crew that's going. [1:41:38] And just seeing this is incredible, really being a part of history right now. [1:41:46] What does this mean for spaceflight? [1:41:50] This is a huge moment for spaceflight. [1:41:53] And we talk about the Apollo era. [1:41:56] We talk about the shuttle era. [1:41:57] And this is truly the beginning of the Artemis era. [1:42:01] This is a shift from humans being in low Earth orbit and our focus really being in low Earth orbit for so many years now and going back into deep space. [1:42:11] This is changing the focus of NASA and hopefully of countries around the world. [1:42:18] As we can see Canadians and there's payloads from different countries around the world that are part of this mission. [1:42:24] This is the beginning of a new era. [1:42:28] It's my understanding that these astronauts are going to be able to see aspects of the moon, the far side of the moon, that have never been seen by human eyes before. [1:42:40] What might we expect of them to observe? [1:42:45] And I also understand that they may lose communication with mission control for a period of time while the moon is blocking or kind of in between them and Earth for a short amount of time. [1:42:58] But what might we be able to glean from them being able to see the far side of the moon? [1:43:05] Yeah, it's incredibly exciting. [1:43:09] They're going to be able to see parts of the moon that have never been seen before. [1:43:14] And part of that will, I mentioned before, that our brains are really the most exciting part of what's going there. [1:43:21] And they're going to be looking at geological features on the lunar surface that can tell us about its formation, about where we're going to be going at the South Pole, about how we might find water ice on the moon. [1:43:34] Which is going to be extremely important when we have the Artemis IV astronauts go and be able to land on the surface of the moon. [1:43:43] And a big part of going, the communication aspect of that and losing communication is being able to test this communication on the far side of the moon and be able to test in real time. [1:43:57] So they're actually going to have scientists involved in this portion of the mission and be able to talk to the astronauts and discuss with them what they're finding. [1:44:07] So part of that blackout is going to be the astronauts really making use of their knowledge of the geology of the moon. [1:44:13] And Cody, stay with us here. [1:44:15] When NASA announced its intention to return to the moon, they said they were going back to stay. [1:44:22] And recently they shared its blueprint for building a moon base. [1:44:26] In the first phase of the $20 billion plan called Build, Test, Learn, they'll work with commercial space partners to send rovers, instruments, and technology to the lunar surface between now and 2028. [1:44:38] In phase two, between 2029 and 2033, they'll deliver the early infrastructure, building a semi-habitable area for astronauts. [1:44:46] At this point, astronauts will be able to live and work on the moon's surface on a regular basis, which is really phenomenal. [1:44:53] And during phase three, slated for 2033 to 2036, NASA and its partners will deliver larger habitats and vehicles to the moon, establishing a permanent human presence on lunar surface. [1:45:05] For the moon-based plan to be able to work, NASA is going to need a lot of help from its commercial space partners, especially SpaceX and Blue Origin. [1:45:15] Both companies are building lunar landers capable of transporting astronauts from the Orion capsule to the lunar surface. [1:45:22] SpaceX is working on a version of its Starship spacecraft. [1:45:26] Blue Origin calls its craft the Blue Moon Lander. [1:45:30] NASA is planning to test these landers during the Artemis III mission in 2027. [1:45:34] Not on the moon, but in Earth's orbit. [1:45:37] Artemis IV and V in 2028 could see one or both of these lunar landers actually take astronauts to the moon's surface. [1:45:46] And Dr. Oglebushay, I want to bring you back in here because when we're talking about NASA and the history, [1:45:53] it sounds like this really could be one of the last solo missions from NASA. [1:45:59] This is really kind of old school NASA playbook, but we know that it is a little less expensive, still very expensive, but to use some of the private companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX. [1:46:12] So in the next few steps of this phase, it sounds like these private companies will very much be a part of the plan. [1:46:19] Absolutely. [1:46:20] And in a way, they always have been, right? [1:46:22] And that's one of the big difficulties about creating a spacecraft like this is the fact that you have all these components coming from multiple vendors [1:46:29] that are providing systems that have to be integrated into one complete system that has to work flawlessly. [1:46:36] But America has been really good throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century in funding fundamental research, [1:46:43] turning that into commercial products, spinning off private companies, [1:46:47] and you have this government, university, private company ecosystem that has kept us at the cutting edge of technology for the planet. [1:46:56] And we need to continue investing. [1:47:00] Cody, I want to bring you back in here. [1:47:02] We've talked quite a bit about radiation. [1:47:04] Why is it so important to learn about radiation in deep space? [1:47:08] So in deep space, we experience radiation in two formats. [1:47:16] So there's the galactic cosmic radiation, which is a consistent background radiation that comes from supernova deep in space. [1:47:26] And this is these really fast, really heavy ions that can be extremely damaging for humans. [1:47:33] And then there is also the danger of radiation that can come from solar particle events. [1:47:37] So these are flares that are coming from our sun that we sometimes see in our magnetosphere. [1:47:45] And these can be very dangerous. [1:47:48] There were some Apollo missions that came very close to some solar particle events. [1:47:53] So we want to better understand that radiation in deep space so that we can make sure that for future missions, [1:47:59] we're able to protect our astronauts from that radiation. [1:48:03] Gio, I want to go back to you. [1:48:04] Give us a sense. [1:48:05] Are the crowds still there, kind of basking in the afterglow, so to speak? [1:48:08] Or are people packing up? [1:48:11] They're basking, but they're starting to get back to work because they were here working. [1:48:16] But, you know, Lindsay, it struck me as I was watching, all of our hearts were racing as we approached that final countdown. [1:48:22] I'm sure that's what you felt, too. [1:48:23] And so I've asked astronauts, what is it that you're feeling in those final moments when you're there on that spaceship? [1:48:30] And basically, I was trying to find out, how do you deal with all that stress? [1:48:33] It could help all of us, right? [1:48:34] And they basically say, you know what, Gio? [1:48:37] We relax into it because we've prepared. [1:48:40] And what we witnessed today here was that preparation to make history. [1:48:45] We all witnessed that preparation. [1:48:46] And, Susan, I want to bring you back in here to give us a sense of why it's so important for humans rather than machines to take this voyage. [1:48:56] You know, machines can do a lot, but they can't do everything. [1:49:03] Machines could not have picked all the particular rocks, per se. [1:49:07] They, you know, so we need the people and the machine. [1:49:10] There is a role for both. [1:49:13] Dr. Olu Sheyi, I've been seeing you kind of, you know, bouncing your knees around and went from maybe nerves to just excitement. [1:49:21] How are you feeling going forward? [1:49:23] Joy. [1:49:23] I am feeling intense joy. [1:49:26] I had some nervousness. [1:49:28] I had some excitement. [1:49:29] But now it's turned to joy. [1:49:31] They're in orbit. [1:49:31] The hardest, most dangerous part of the mission before reentry is done. [1:49:36] And now, you know, they're getting busy doing the science. [1:49:39] And I can only imagine how ecstatic they are on board. [1:49:43] They have tasks to do. [1:49:44] But when you're a scientist, when you're an engineer, you love doing that work. [1:49:47] As a former Navy seaman, go Navy, right? [1:49:50] We got half the crew is former Navy. [1:49:52] And I understand, too, that Nat Geo was able to give the astronauts on board cameras, train them how to use cameras. [1:50:00] This is the first time we're going to see smartphones in use inside that capsule. [1:50:04] What kind of images, because we all remember the black and white grainy images of the moon from more than 50 years ago, what kind of visuals will we be able to bring back 10 days from now? [1:50:16] You'd be surprised, right? [1:50:18] When I was at NASA, I managed a program out of Johnson Space Center where they were actually using the astronauts' own photographs through the window of the space shuttle in order to do science here on Earth. [1:50:29] And now they're going to do the same thing for the moon. [1:50:33] Dr. Olu Sheyi, our thanks to you. [1:50:35] Thank you, ma'am. [1:50:36] To all who has been a part of our team and our crew here at ABC News, we thank you so much. [1:50:42] Artemis II is now on its way. [1:50:45] We will follow its journey and track every milestone. [1:50:47] For now, we return you to your regular programming. [1:50:50] For some of you, that's World News Tonight. [1:50:52] Thanks so much for joining us. [1:50:54] I'm Lindsay Davis.