Up to 400,000 spectators are expected to fly to the moon

Amazing event. The launch of the massive rocket from the Artemis mission to the moon, Saturday 3 September, could attract up to 400,000 people, local authorities said. The SLS rocket, for the Artemis 1 mission, is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built.

Takeoff is scheduled for 2:17 pm local time from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (US), but it will still be possible for the next two hours if necessary. The Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral is closed to the public, but spectators will be able to see the rocket soaring into the sky and hear its roar especially from the surrounding beaches.

The total number of tourists who made the trip can “Double” Brevard County Sheriff Don Walker told AFP this weekend. “We estimate the crowd for the launch to be between 200,000 and 400,000 people.”, did he say. The hotels on the coast have been full for several weeks.

On Monday, the first launch attempt was called off at the last minute due to technical issues. Then the local authorities expected between 100,000 and 200,000 visitors.

The Artemis 1 mission is a test flight without an astronaut on board. Orion’s rocket-powered capsule will spend about six weeks in space, venturing up to 64,000 kilometers behind the moon, farther than any other habitable vehicle to date.