Spectators Flocked to the Artemis 2 Launch to Witness History Being Made. One Awed Viewer Called It ‘the Best Thing Ever’ Wednesday evening, a human mission to the moon lifted off for the first time in more than 50 years. These 13 photographs capture what it was like to experience the moment Onlookers capture photos and videos as the Space Launch System rocket carrying the Artemis 2 crew’s Orion spacecraft  Integrity   lifts off at 6:35 p.m. Eastern time on April 1. Amber Ballard You could see it first. Steam billowed beneath the enormous orange rocket, and a blinding plume of exhaust trailed below as it lifted off the ground. Then, you could hear it. About a minute after takeoff, the sound of several tons of rocket propellant burning every second rumbled in my ears and vibrated in my chest.…