Artemis Blastoff Wows Cheering Onlookers in Florida

NASA launched its Artemis I mission in the early hours of Wednesday, November 16, beginning what it called a “new chapter” in lunar exploration.

During the flight, the unmanned Orion capsule will launch from the most powerful rocket in the world and fly beyond the far side of the moon, farther than any spacecraft built for humans, NASA said.

Footage recorded by Ian Barritt in Titusville, Florida, shows the liftoff. Credit: Ian Barritt via Storyful

Video transcript

[CHUCKLES]

- Oh.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Oh, Liam, look at that.

- Yeah, baby, go.

[CLAPPING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

- It is so bright.

- Look how the sky--

- No way.

[CHEERING]

[CHATTERING]

- OK. I told you it was going right towards the moon.

- Baby, here comes the sound.

- Oh, that's right.

- Here we go.

[GASPS]

[WIND WHISTLING]

- Wow.

- Go, baby, go.

- Yes.

[WIND WHISTLING]

- Woo.

[WIND WHISTLING]

[CHUCKLES]

- Yeah.

[CHEERING]

[WHISTLING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[CHEERING]