By Burt Dicht
NSS Managing Director of Membership
I took this photograph of the Artemis 1 launch simply exterior the again door of the constructing that incorporates the brand new NSS workplace!
As a member of the Apollo Era, I confess to being envious when mates, colleagues and fellow house lovers share tales of witnessing an Apollo Moon shot. Their eyes all the time mild up and so they have extensive grins as they recount the experiences of greater than fifty years in the past.
I used to be ten years outdated when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, and it had a profound affect on my future. It led me to a profession as an engineer within the aerospace business and naturally membership in NSS. Seeing a launch in particular person was one thing I dreamed of for a very long time, however the alternatives typically eluded me. I’d not see my first launch till the age of fifty . . . STS-129 (Atlantis) on 16 November 2009. It was a protracted wait however effectively value it as I had an immense feeling of satisfaction as I watched Atlantis climb to orbit. I couldn’t wait till the subsequent launch. Right here is my photograph:
And through the years I’ve seen different launches together with a number of Falcon 9s and Atlas Vs. However a Moon rocket was not but in my portfolio. The Artemis program supplied me a possibility to lastly see a Moon rocket; the one query was would the schedule align with my availability to see the launch in-person.
Name it serendipity, however the NSS choice to open an workplace on the Kennedy Area Middle Customer Advanced (KSCVC), my choice to retire from my place at IEEE and transfer to Florida, my capability to transition from a volunteer function to a contractor assist function, and the timing of the deliberate launch of Artemis I all labored out completely. For those who may need missed our announcement final month, we at the moment are occupying an workplace on the KSCVC. (Extra particulars on the workplace opening will comply with.)
Positioned within the Middle for Area Training constructing, which is run by the Astronauts Memorial Basis, the NSS workplace will present day-to-day assist for membership transactions (renewals, donations, new memberships, success, and so on.) in addition to coping with membership points, questions, and different inquiries. The intent is to enhance our engagement with the membership and to offer a extra constant and responsive stage of assist. Being on the KSCVC additionally gives us with the chance to discover collaborative actions with different house associated organizations and firms. It will allow us to develop potential new applications and advantages that might add to your membership worth.
It’s an thrilling time for me personally as I stay up for supporting NSS in a brand new manner. After all, being on the Kennedy Area Middle additionally means I don’t must go very far to see a launch. When you have by no means been to a launch, there are various locations to view one. Essentially the most fascinating spot is the Banana River viewing web site on the Apollo/Saturn V Middle. It’s roughly 4 miles from the pads. However to be right here you’ll want to be one of many fortunate ones, know anyone, be a VIP or contractor and even seize a uncommon ticket that the KSCVC sells. Let me simply say it’s value it as that’s the place I noticed the STS-129 launch.
Don’t be disheartened if you’re not capable of safe a spot at Apollo/Saturn V Middle. You’ll be able to view a launch from the KSCVC, which is roughly 8 miles from the launch pads of the KSC. There are additionally many public areas in Titusville, Playalinda Seaside, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Seaside and different areas that may present nice views of the launch.
Just like the tens of hundreds of people that descended on the house coast to view the historic first launch of Artemis I, I waited out the scrubs that occurred on 29 August and three Sept. All of us left disillusioned, however if you’re planning a go to to view a launch, get it into your mindset {that a} delay or scrub is a excessive likelihood.
Because the third launch try was lastly scheduled, I sensed a sense of confidence that this “third time can be the attraction.” I used to be within the workplace that day (15 Nov) ready for the launch early the subsequent morning. I made a decision to view the launch from simply exterior the again door of the Middle for Area Training. There may be not a direct view of LC-39B due to a tree line that sits throughout the NASA Causeway, so I’d not really see the rocket ignition. However understanding all of the viewing areas on the KSCVC, I consider it supplied the most effective view from 8 miles away.
The countdown was continuing easily with out the problems that plagued the primary two launch makes an attempt after which NASA reported a leak in a valve in floor tools used to replenish the core stage’s liquid hydrogen tank. A “pink group,” a specifically skilled crew was dispatched to the pad by the Launch Director to tighten bolts within the valve and repair the leak. This delayed the launch by about forty minutes, however the whole lot was quickly “go for liftoff.”
I went exterior about 10 minutes earlier than liftoff and positioned myself in the fitting spot. Even with the tree line I knew the place to look as a result of the xenon lights have been illuminating the sky above the launch pad. At 1:47 am EST on 16 Nov, the countdown reached zero and I might see an infinite flash of vibrant mild emanating from the pad and I quickly noticed the motion of the rocket. It appeared to leap off the pad and I skilled my digicam and began capturing.
Night time launches are fairly spectacular due to the extreme mild from the rocket exhaust. They’re additionally difficult as a result of you may’t actually see the rocket. After only a few photographs I put my digicam down and simply loved the sunshine present. The rocket climbed so majestically. It was magical to look at. Then about 10 seconds after the launch the sound of the 4 RS-25 engines and two SRBs reached me. The sound constructed as much as a rumbling crescendo. It was fabulous. I continued to comply with the trajectory and I might make out the SRB separation a little bit greater than two minutes into the flight. I continued to hearken to the commentary on my cellphone till the rocket reached MECO. At that time I went again into the workplace and mirrored on what I had seen.
Witnessing historical past, the primary launch of this new Moon rocket, was thrilling. What hit me most was the sensation of satisfaction in celebrating this technological achievement. It was paying homage to what I felt seeing the launch of STS, which occurred on the identical date 13 years in the past. I do know the Artemis program and particularly the SLS have been topic to controversy and an excessive amount of public scrutiny, particularly associated to the lengthy delays and prices. I put all of that apart and targeted on the very fact we have been on our manner again to the Moon and I wished to pay tribute to the hundreds of devoted engineers, scientists, technicians, and different house professionals who’ve put us on this path. Advert Astra Artemis I!
A wider view of the thrilling terrain round right here is proven beneath.
Description: SpaceX’s Axiom-1, the primary personal astronaut mission to the ISS, is within the left foreground on Launch Pad 39A with NASA’s Artemis I in the fitting background on Launch Pad 39B on April 6, 2022 (two days earlier than the profitable launch of Axiom-1). That is the primary time two completely several types of rockets and spacecraft designed to hold people are on the sister pads on the similar time—nevertheless it received’t be the final as NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida continues to develop as a multi-user spaceport to launch each authorities and industrial rockets. Picture courtesy NASA.
