Artemis II Step One is a winner - one down lots to go.

The first step of Artemis II, the big step from sitting on launch pad on the ground to Earth Orbit appeared indistinguishable from perfect. There were a couple of oddities during the countdown, that delayed the 6:24PM EDT launch to 6:35, but liftoff and the milestones went almost as boringly perfect as the typical Falcon 9 flight - and that "almost" qualifier was because the flight profile wasn't the same as the Falcon 9's. I've watched hundreds of Falcon 9 launches, so I'm used to the times that the major milestones come on.

The sky was surprisingly clear and blue; surprising because it was completely overcast earlier in the day and some showers were blowing onshore both here and up on the Cape. Thankfully, that was closer to 3PM (1500 EDT) and long gone by launch time. We were able to watch the launch on its path that seemed close to due east, until the solid rocket boosters dropped. Which seemed later in the flight than the two side Falcon 9 boosters drop off a Falcon Heavy. It was pretty from 35 miles south of the launch, but not very loud and the (much) smaller Falcon launches regularly rattle our doors and windows more than the much bigger SLS. I chalk that up to weather.  

Artemis II ascends from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Credit: Stephen Clark/Ars Technica

And about three minutes later (I think)

The solid rocket boosters (SRBs) detach after NASA's Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Space.com)

Of course this is all about the first hour of a mission that will last on the order of 10 days. Credit where credit's due, a successful start is always a good thing, but doesn't mean a whole lot about the next 10 days. Not to mention that the vast majority of the media will be covering this. We should know by tomorrow if the life support systems operate as needed; and if they don't work properly the mission will be aborted. I'll be watching this as I'm sure most of you will be.