Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The emotional and technical details of the Artemis II launch underscore the significance of NASA’s ambitious plans to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.Today in Orlando
Pablo de León, the Chair of the University of North Dakota’s Space Studies program, was present for the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon. de León described the powerful sound and vibration of the rocket liftoff, as well as the visible emotion from the mission control team. He highlighted the potential for the moon to provide critical minerals and resources, such as the rare gas Helium-3, that could be used to generate clean energy on Earth.
Why it matters
The successful Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the moon, is a major milestone in NASA’s plans to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface by 2033. As the chair of a leading space studies program, de León’s firsthand account provides valuable insight into the technical and emotional aspects of these historic space launches.
The details
During the Artemis II launch, de León said the sound and vibration were “unbelievable” and that he could see “tears coming out of the control team” due to the emotion of the moment. He explained that the moon contains unlimited amounts of the rare gas Helium-3, which “may hold the key for production of clean electric energy here on Earth.” UND is also preparing to open a new facility next year that will allow students to simulate weightlessness for spacewalk training and equipment testing.
The Artemis II mission launched on April 9, 2026.UND plans to open its new neutral buoyancy facility next year (2027).
The players
Pablo de León
The Chair of the University of North Dakota’s Space Studies program, who witnessed the Artemis II rocket launch in person.
NASA
The U.S. space agency that is leading the Artemis program to return humans to the moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent lunar base by 2033.
Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›
What they’re saying
“The sound and the vibration that you feel in your chest when this takes off is something unbelievable. You could see the emotion, tears coming out of the control team. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
— Pablo de León, Chair, UND Space Studies
“There are unlimited amounts of very rare gas called Helium-3 which may hold the key for production of clean electric energy here on Earth.”
— Pablo de León, Chair, UND Space Studies
What’s next
NASA is looking to complete a permanent base on the moon by 2033, building on the success of the Artemis II mission.
The takeaway
The emotional and technical details shared by the UND Space Studies Chair underscore the significance of the Artemis II launch, which represents a major step forward in NASA’s ambitious plans to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface and unlock the moon’s potential as a source of valuable resources for clean energy production on Earth.