Artemis II mission returns home after history-making flyby of the Moon while SpaceX launch dazzles locals

While viewers around the world were glued to the television, computer and cellphone screens over the past 10 days (April 1-10) following the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission, South County residents were witness to their own out-of-this-world experience on Monday, April 6, with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex carrying 25 Starlink satellites into Earth orbit.

The launch created a large and glowing plume visible over Southern California, including San Diego and Los Angeles. The launch time of 7:50 p.m. PT allowed rays from the recently set Sun to illuminate the rocket’s trail in the western sky.

The plume kept lengthening, brightening and then growing into a jellyfish-like trident. For those driving north and south in their vehicles, the spectacle might have largely gone unnoticed. But for those driving east to west, it was dead center in their sights.

The staging event and booster separation were clearly visible for those paying attention. The first stage successfully landed on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean.

The mission was previously delayed due to weather and high upper-level atmospheric winds but went off without a hitch on Monday evening.

A second SpaceX launch during the week was scheduled for Friday, April 10, at 8:58 local time following the recovery off the coast of San Diego of the Artemis II Intrepid capsule carrying four astronauts.

All four astronauts were recovered safely after a 694,281-mile journey from the Earth, around the farside of the Moon and back again. The mission, the first-manned lunar mission in almost 54 years, and the first crewed Artemis flight, was a bonafide success from start to finish. It served as a test of the Orion spacecraft before the upcoming provisional Artemis III landing.

The crew made history with the first female astronaut (mission specialist Christina Koch), first person of color (pilot Victor Glover) and first Canadian (mission specialist Jeremy Hansen) to venture into lunar space. Reid Weiseman served as mission commander.

The Artemis II mission broke records for farthest point from the Earth of 252,756 miles, breaking the Apollo 13 record by 248,655 set in 1970.

The capsule did not go into orbit around the Moon but used a gravitational-assisted slingshot effect around the farside to send it back homeward. The astronauts ventured as close as 4,067 miles to the lunar surface while in radio silence behind the Moon. The lunar farside is not visible from the Earth due to its gravitationally-locked orbit with one face (the nearside) perpetually facing our planet.

While making its rendezvous with the Moon, the crew witnessed a total eclipse of the Sun as the Moon passed between the capsule and the Sun. This enabled data recovery of the fragile solar corona.

The Intrepid capsule returned to the Earth with a speed of more than 20,000 mph and needed to use atmospheric braking and parachutes to slow its speed to 19 mph upon splashdown.

The Space Launch System rocket produced 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the most powerful rocket to do so. The Saturn V moon rocket from the Apollo missions (1969 to 1972) produced 7.5 to 7.6 million pounds of thrust. The Saturn V remains the tallest rocket (363 feet) and heaviest rocket (6.2 pounds) ever flown.

The SLS measures 322 feet tall and weighs 5.75 million pounds.

The Orion capsule is five meters (16.5 feet) in diameter at the base, allowing room for four astronauts, instead of three during the smaller Apollo missions (diameter of 12 feet, 10 inches at the base).

A total of 12 men walked on the Moon during the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 missions. The Apollo 13 mission did not land due to a system failure but successfully returned to Earth.

Neil Armstrong became the first human to touch the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the Moon during the history-making Apollo 11 voyage. The two American astronauts spent two hours and 31 minutes gathering samples and setting up scientific instruments on the lunar surface.

Public showcase
Besides watching the unfolding spectacle on NASA TV, fans could get a hands-on experience at both the Fleet Science Center and Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. Lines were very long, showing acute interest from the community. Spaceflight fans were rewarded with NASA displays, particularly at the Fleet Center, and a chance to get together in unity to watch history in the making.

“The Fleet Science Center actually had a better display of NASA stuff and gave away bags with the NASA logo and magnets plus a few other things,” said Paradise Hills resident Lupe Lucero, who attended both events with his grandson. “We went there first then headed down to the Air and Space Museum to get in for half-price. But the line was way too long and no guarantee of getting in, so we ended up grabbing regular price tickets online. All was well worth it. It was a great experience. At one point the crowd started shouting “USA!” when you finally saw the capsule coming down at great speed. It was awesome.”

Moon beams
Terrestrial eyes were on the Moon this past month from a thin crescent to a full phase on April 1 signalling the launch of Aretmis II from Florida.

Heading toward New Moon phase. Photos by Phillip Brents