NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B between 6:24 p.m. and 8:24 p.m. Thursday. The 10-day flight to the moon's orbit will carry Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. The launch window includes fueling operations, crew boarding, and final systems checks ahead of liftoff. Live updates will be available on FOX 35 News+ and NASA+.
The engine roar from the Space Launch System rocket will be audible to residents near Kennedy Space Center, including Mims, Titusville, Satellite Beach, and Cape Canaveral. Further out, areas like Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, Lary Mary, Orlando, and Palm Bay may hear lower-volume rumbles. FOX 35 meteorologist Noah Bergren said visibility of the sound depends on weather and terrain.
Nearly all of Florida, including parts of the Panhandle and southern Georgia, may see the rocket ascend into the night sky. The mission marks the first lunar voyage in 50 years. Visibility windows are indicated by +10, +20, +30 seconds after launch, with the rocket disappearing from view at 40,000 feet. Residents in these areas are encouraged to check local forecasts for optimal viewing conditions.
The Artemis II launch is the second flight in NASA's lunar program, paving the way for future crewed moon landings. While no sonic booms are expected, the thunderous engine noise will be felt by some on the Space Coast. Local officials and residents are preparing for the historic event, which will be the first Artemis mission with a crewed spacecraft since the Apollo era.