Artemis launch

[Seeker]

NASA's Artemis rocket successfully launched:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLD0Lp0JBg

4x RS25 main engines (Shuttle had 3) and 2 solid fuel boosters
(8.8 million pounds thrust)

the lift off starts at 3:16:54

[Sir Trev]

I still find articles about the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programmes fascinating, mainly due to the experimentation and testing needed in a pretty much pre-computer era. With all the modelling available now and far better engineering facilities its equally fascinating to see how such seemingly small items can still delay a launch and cost so much time and money as a consequence. Speaking of which, I just hope the overall investment actually help mankind in some way and it's not a colossal game of "because we can".

[garynortheast]

......I just hope the overall investment actually help mankind in some way and it's not a colossal game of "because we can".

Absolutely with you there Trevor.

[Seeker]

The SLS (Space Launch System) was originally planned for deep space/outer planets exploration. NASA's risk aversion pushed up the costs so its grandeur was curtailed. When the Chinese announced a moonbase plan SLS Artemis was repurposed as a new moon (and maybe Mars) rocket.
I suspect it may have been cancelled had it not been for the Chinese plan.- The estimated cost of the whole project is $93 billion by the time astronauts are back on the moon (2025). Each launch is $4 billion. Each Falcon Heavy from SpaceX costs $97 million/launch although Artemis is about 80% more powerful (105 tons SLS payload versus 50 tons FH).