From Launch to Landing: Witnessing NASA’s Historic Lunar Mission

Over the past ten days, a quartet of astronauts has rewritten the history books, traveling farther into the cosmos than any humans have ventured previously on their round-trip voyage to the Moon. I have tracked every second of the Artemis II mission, witnessing the dramatic launch, the close lunar flyby, and the tense re-entry. Prior to their departure, the crew remarked that astronauts are typically the most composed individuals on launch day. I, however, was far from calm.

The physical sensation of the launch was overwhelming. My inability to contain my excitement resulted in a video of my reaction going viral. Standing near the countdown clock at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, accompanied by my BBC News science colleagues Alison Francis and Kevin Church, was an intensely visceral experience. The scene was dominated by an blinding white brilliance that was impossible to look away from, a deafening roar that seemed to take seconds to reach you, and a shockwave that passed directly through your body. Above all, it was difficult to process the reality that four people were strapped into the top of a 98-meter-tall rocket, hurtling toward the Moon.

Once the crew achieved their first view of Earth from the void, Victor Glover addressed the planet, stating, "Planet Earth, you look beautiful." After firing the spacecraft’s main engine, they bid farewell to Earth and embarked on their 250,000-mile journey to the lunar surface.

As the astronauts adjusted to microgravity, live video feeds were transmitted from inside their capsule, revealing just how confined their living space was. The crew had to live, work, eat, and sleep in an area roughly equivalent to the size of a minibus. With no privacy among themselves or from the millions of viewers worldwide, particular scrutiny was placed on their Universal Waste Management System—commonly referred to as the toilet. The $23 million toilet suffered from plumbing issues, leading to detailed media briefings regarding the astronauts' ability to use the facilities. When asked about their "number ones and twos," it was revealed that while regular defecation ("number twos") was possible, "number ones" required the use of collapsible contingency urine devices—essentially bags equipped with funnels.

Inside the Nerve Center

At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, I spent time within mission control, the operational hub of the entire endeavor. Teams of specialists monitored data streams, keeping a watchful eye on everything from navigation systems to life support. This vigilance was crucial because Artemis II is a test flight, marking the first time humans have flown on both the new rocket and the spacecraft. Such tests inherently carry significant risks.

These dangers were brought into sharp focus during an interview with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen for the BBC’s Artemis II podcast. Conducted while Hansen was in quarantine prior to launch, the conversation revealed that he had discussed the possibility of not returning home with his wife and three children. Similarly, Reid Wiseman admitted to having frank discussions with his two daughters about the risks. As a single father who lost his wife six years ago, Wiseman’s situation highlighted one of the mission’s most emotional moments.

A Tribute to Carroll

As the spacecraft approached its destination and the Moon filled the windows, new features on the lunar surface became apparent. The crew identified a bright crater visible from Earth and named it "Carroll" in honor of Reid Wiseman’s late wife. The moment moved the entire crew to tears, resulting in a group hug for their commander and friend. The emotion was palpable back in Houston as well; there wasn't a dry eye in mission control, including among the BBC team. Every NASA employee we spoke to from that point forward...

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-04-11 23:17:07 UTC