The Most Spectacular Images and Videos from NASA's Artemis II Mission Launch

In the night just passed, the first crewed mission of the Artemis space program, initiated by NASA but with significant participation from various space agencies and companies, was launched. The Artemis II mission is the first since the end of the Apollo program to approach the Moon, surpassing low Earth orbit and conducting various technical tests before the landing, set for early 2028 (according to current plans). The launch was executed successfully, and during the early hours, the astronauts faced only minor inconveniences, such as issues with the toilet.

The liftoff from Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at Kennedy Space Center was watched by hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts and ordinary people, while millions more were online. It was a historic moment that adults and children alike wanted to witness, as the Orion Integrity capsule is now on an extremely elliptical orbit around the Earth before igniting its engines and heading towards the Moon.

Photos and Videos from the Artemis II Mission Launch

Many images and videos showing the moment of the NASA SLS liftoff and the Orion capsule have been shared on social media. Both professional and amateur photographers, as well as curious onlookers, wanted to capture this moment to share with the world. Among the most popular images is one from X user The Reverend Mister, captured in Orlando, showing his two children watching the rocket launch in the distance from their garden.

Other spectacular images come from Brian, who particularly highlighted the separation of the two solid rocket boosters of the Space Launch System. Once their task was completed, the two side SRBs separated from the main stage, which continued its ascent propelled by four RS-25 engines inherited from the Space Shuttle orbiters (using hydrogen and oxygen as propellants).

Ellie Sleightholm also showcased a notably unusual image of the Artemis II launch. In this instance, it is a photograph conveying the awe of the Space Launch System launch without directly showing it. The rocket can be seen reflected in Sleightholm's glasses, uniting the technological aspect (the vehicle) with the more human aspect, namely the astonished expression of the individual.

Renowned photographer Max Evans displayed several photographs of the mission's launch towards the Moon, particularly capturing the initial moments when NASA SLS left the launch pad behind, with the two side boosters pushing the spacecraft and capsule carrying the four astronauts away.

American astronaut Chris Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station, commented on the launch: "Good luck Artemis II! Our crew on the ISS stayed up to watch the launch of our friends on their historic mission to the Moon. We were over the Northern Pacific Ocean at the time of the launch, so we couldn't see it directly (we watched it on NASA TV). However, about half an hour later, while we were orbiting a few hundred kilometers from Florida, I managed to catch a glimpse of the rocket's trail as it crossed the atmosphere! You can see the wind effect at different altitudes."

As with other space launches (e.g., Starship), the launch trail of the Space Launch System was distinctly visible thanks to weather satellites. In particular, GOES-19/East (but not alone) captured the trail above the sea off Florida, visible from a great distance.

Julia Manchester had the opportunity to observe the liftoff of Artemis II from her parents' house. Manchester wrote: "View of Artemis II from my parents' balcony on the east coast of Central Florida!" Definitely a nearly privileged and very interesting viewpoint.

In another video, one can see how the view appeared during the live streaming of the Moon mission launch and how it looked dozens of kilometers away. In this case, the boy is first in front of the television watching the liftoff, and then he moves to the garden to watch it with his own eyes!

Finally, other systems have been "keeping an eye" on the mission. For example, satellite monitoring systems can easily detect operations in low Earth orbit, such as those from s2a systems, which show the Orion Integrity capsule of the Artemis II mission close to the upper stage ICPS after separation. This is a collection of several photographs captured between 5:16 and 5:27 this morning. The two dots are still very close as they gradually drift apart (with ICPS set to re-enter the atmosphere).