To the Moon, Alice

I just realized I had time to get over to the Artemis launch, if I had planned on it earlier.

Long time ago, I saw a shuttle launch. At that time, I only had a Kodak disposable camera. A teeny, little spot on my picture which you had to explain what it was if you showed it to people.

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.

I found the CBS News app on my Roku 4 and at the top I clicked play and it opened up to a clock at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas (at 4:49 PM EDT) and a countdown clock at 1:34 left on the clock.

Now it says no-go to launch due to a technical issue. NASA working to fix issue with rocket's flight termination system. The countdown clock continues.
Kennedy Space Center rocket pictured.

Artemis II: Mission Around The Moon

James West could not be found.

With 1:10 left on the clock the flight termination issue has been resolved, Artemis launch is a go.

AI: Apollo 10 was the fourth human spaceflight in the United States' Apollo program and the second to orbit the Moon. NASA, the mission's operator, described it as a "dress rehearsal" for the first Moon landing.
May 18, 1969 – May 26, 1969

LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/01/live-artemis-ii-launch-day-updates/#:~:text=The%20first%20crewed%20deep%2Dspace%20flight,than%20any%20previous%20human%20mission%2C

5:15 p.m.

Engineers have now resolved an issue with the hardware that communicates with the flight termination system that would have prevented the ground from sending a signal to destruct the rocket if it were to veer off course during ascent, to protect public safety. A confidence test was performed to ensure that the hardware is ready to support today’s launch.

Meanwhile, technicians have completed the launch abort system hatch closure – an essential step that ensures the Orion spacecraft is fully sealed and ready for flight. The hatch provides an additional protective barrier for the crew module, designed to safeguard astronauts during the Artemis II flight path and, if necessary, enable a rapid escape in the event of an emergency.

During this phase, the closeout team verifies hatch alignment, engages locking mechanisms, and confirms pressure integrity. These checks guarantee that the launch abort system hatch can perform its function flawlessly, maintaining structural integrity under extreme launch conditions. With the hatch secured, Orion enters its final configuration for liftoff, marking one of the last major milestones before fueling and launch.

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nNiUBVwF-o

I'll watch it on my TV, it creates problems for my computer monitor.
Brave explorers are headed for the far reaches of the galaxy in the continuation of the story that began with "2001: A Space Odyssey." Their destination is Jupiter, where the Russian and American astronauts will conduct their investigation. Drs. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), Walter Curnow (John Lithgow) and R. Chandra (Bob Balaban), along with shipmates Tanya (Helen Mirren) and Dave (Keir Dullea), aim to uncover what led to disaster for the deceased astronauts who preceded them.

35 minutes on countdown: a temperature sensor was found to be reading out of range. There's up to a 2 hour launch window available from countdown zero.

I haven't seen CBS in so long I forgot who Major Garrett was and some guests mentioned his name as he was interviewing them. Now that I identified him, his time is up and a new host will appear after the commercial.

Four orbits around the Earth then a 4 day trip to the Moon with just a simple loop around the dark side of the moon then 4 days back to Earth. (10 day total trip.) If NASA is defunded while they are in space, it's a real possibility.

Liftoff looks better in color than black & white.
Rocket hit 10,000 mph at 77 miles up from Earth. Might have to check an old Star Trek episode about Mr. Seven about that. Big booster separated at 100 miles above Earth. 243K miles to the Moon. Rocket going 18.4K mph at 150 miles above the Earth, and slowing down. The miles to the Moon counter is counting down much faster than the miles from Earth. 240K miles to the Moon and 450 miles from Earth.

Quote: rxwine

I just realized I had time to get over to the Artemis launch, if I had planned on it earlier.

Long time ago, I saw a shuttle launch. At that time, I only had a Kodak disposable camera. A teeny, little spot on my picture which you had to explain what it was if you showed it to people.

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
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One day the stars will be coming to us. When we merge with Andromeda, we'll have new neighbors.

"Conquering" doesn't mean much when we're talking about extraterrestrials. There are predicted to be planets everywhere, but life and especially intelligent life is predicted to be fleetingly rare. A civilization advanced enough for interstellar travel that was looking for a planet would find countless uninhabited planets that are exactly what they want, before they find one with an intelligent and dangerous species like ours.

That's one theory. Another is that any planet with earthlike conditions is bound to develop earthlike life. It's possible a "class M" planet is the only place where intelligent life can live, so their planet would be just like ours and the planets they are looking to conquer would be just like ours. But I don't think a civilization where those instincts are the norm would survive to a spacefaring age. Too much fighting among themselves.

Quote: rxwine

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
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If.

Actually, we shouldn't really worry about "super advanced conquering aliens" because, for the most part, they have no way of knowing that we are here. Besides, for all we know, the oxygen on Earth would kill them.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Quote: rxwine

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
link to original post

If.

Actually, we shouldn't really worry about "super advanced conquering aliens" because, for the most part, they have no way of knowing that we are here. Besides, for all we know, the oxygen on Earth would kill them.
link to original post

Hey! How do you know they don't know we're here?

(for that matter, they could have already sent the equivalent of cosmic 'bug spray' our way.)

I was tracking the launch on the official website, and with about three minutes to go, I turned on my TV and tuned in to CNN. For whatever reason, CNN didn't show the launch live; it was about fifteen seconds behind.
I expected to be spending long weekends on the moon by now, so this mission doesn't really thrill me.