Adventure Journalist Recounts Historic Artemis II Lunar Mission

Forbes writer Jim Clash shares firsthand account of the rocket launch and astronaut crew behind the first manned lunar mission in 50 years.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sage, and indigo, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals that conceptually represent the complex engineering and powerful forces behind the Artemis II rocket launch.The historic Artemis II launch has reignited public excitement for human space exploration, showcasing NASA's commitment to sending its most elite astronauts on ambitious missions to the moon.Merritt Island Today

Adventure journalist Jim Clash joined a local news broadcast to relive the historic launch of the Artemis II rocket, the first crewed lunar mission in 50 years. Clash described the scale and drama of the liftoff, the anxiety leading up to the launch, and the emotional atmosphere as the rocket ascended. He also provided context on the Artemis II astronaut crew and compared them to recent space tourists.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in the renewed push for human space exploration, reigniting public interest in lunar travel after decades of focus on low-Earth orbit missions. Clash's firsthand account offers a unique perspective on the technical and human elements behind this historic launch.

The details

The Artemis II rocket stands 325 feet tall, slightly shorter than the Saturn V rockets that carried astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 70s. After multiple delays, the launch on April 1 was only postponed by 10 minutes due to weather concerns. Clash described the majestic sight and powerful sound of liftoff, with journalists cheering and even NASA officials shedding tears of joy. The four-person Artemis II crew represents some of North America's top astronauts, in contrast to recent 'space tourists' who have taken brief suborbital flights.

  • The Artemis II rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, on Monday, April 1.
  • The Artemis II crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10 after completing their lunar flyby.

The players

Jim Clash

A Forbes adventure journalist who provided firsthand coverage and analysis of the Artemis II launch.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the four-person Artemis II crew, which also includes Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

NASA

The U.S. space agency responsible for the Artemis program and the historic Artemis II lunar mission.

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What they’re saying

“The rocket itself is 325 feet high. It's a little less than the Saturn V, which was what took us to the moon in the 1960s and 70s. So, a very impressive rocket. You know, you're looking at it, and the only time you can see scale is if there are people near the bottom of it. And then you go, 'oh my God, that thing's huge.'”

— Jim Clash, Forbes adventure journalist

“Artemis has been delayed so many times; this was the first one with humans, four astronauts, going around the moon, so it was really important that they get it right … The weather can scrub a launch, a little leak somewhere in the rocket can scrub a launch, so you've got to be really careful, and so leading up to it, we had wind during the day, and we were worried that if you have a 35-mile-an-hour gust, they'll scrub it.”

— Jim Clash, Forbes adventure journalist

“Well, number one, all the journalists, we were the closest you could get, a little over three miles, and everyone started cheering and screaming. And so it took about 17 seconds, I think, for the sound to reach us from the actual rocket. So you saw it light up, and then slowly, you know, go up with really, really bright light.”

— Jim Clash, Forbes adventure journalist

“When you think about Apollo, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, all those guys, they were incredible pilots, fought in the war, Buzz was shot down, you know, Neil Armstrong was one of the best pilots. So those guys were the best of the best, and I think, you know, going back to the moon, we better have the best of the best, because it's not easy.”

— Jim Clash, Forbes adventure journalist

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10 after completing their lunar flyby mission.

The takeaway

The historic Artemis II launch has reignited public excitement for human space exploration, showcasing NASA's commitment to sending its most elite astronauts on ambitious missions to the moon. This mission marks a significant step forward in the Artemis program's goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.