I Had a Front Row Seat for the Artemis II Lift Off. It Was the Dawn of a New Era.

I had the tremendous privilege of watching four NASA astronauts launch from the Kennedy Space Center on the Artemis II mission, which will take them closer to the Moon than anyone has been in more than 50 years. Watching the rocket launch into space filled me with a sense of awe and respect for human ingenuity and immense pride in my country.

The astronauts on this mission will slingshot around the Moon and return to Earth, going farther into space than any human has ever been before. Artemis II is the beginning of a new era in American discovery, innovation, and leadership in the final frontier.

One of the goals of the Artemis missions, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has laid out, is to stay on the Moon and continue lunar missions every few months, preserving America’s vital leadership in space. Artemis II demonstrates our spaceflight abilities and proves that NASA’s systems can sustain flight crews in these new and tough space environments and still return to Earth safely.

We have been preparing for another lunar mission for decades. This is the culmination of colossal research and mathematical genius that will take humans deeper into space than ever before.

On the Artemis II mission, the Orion space shuttle “Integrity” will take the astronauts 4,000 to 6,000 miles above the lunar surface. At this distance, the Moon will be the size of a basketball on their horizon. During this time, the crew will take images and video of the far side of the Moon, which will provide invaluable details to scientists on Earth.

The mission is risky: if the calculations are off, the astronauts could wind up too far into space or crash onto the Moon. Reentering Earth’s atmosphere is also extremely perilous. Orion will face temperatures of around 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit before landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., watches the Artemis II takeoff on April 1, 2026 in
Merritt Island, Fla. (Courtesy of the author)

I serve on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which oversees NASA and its space missions. Equipping NASA to go to the Moon has been a top priority for the committee. The Artemis missions have immense value to our nation; they are central to our national security and scientific advantage.

The Artemis II mission will provide priceless information on space travel and the limits of our current technology, but also a better understanding of Earth, our galaxy, and our vast universe. This mission could not come at a more critical time. While we speak, China is ramping up its astronautical initiatives, creating a space race we cannot afford to lose.

China wants to keep a Chinese astronaut in space for an entire year and has given indication that it is working on missions that keep humans in space for long durations of time. Some estimates say China could land on the Moon by 2030. Communist China has also said it wants to use space to defend its national security. With China’s threat ever-growing and its continued pursuit to spread its malign influence, America must win this space race and establish a lunar foothold before our adversary.

The fact that we can achieve this cannot be overstated. America is the greatest country in the world, and circling the Moon just proves it once again.

Space is the final frontier—the last place of human exploration and discovery. We have always been a nation of explorers, and our world has been shaped by brave men who were willing to risk everything in the name of discovery.

 It bears reminding that invention is born out of creativity and freedom to innovate, not forced mandate from an authoritarian regime. Penicillin, electricity, the light bulb, and the polio vaccine—all of these groundbreaking inventions were made thanks to the innovative spirit of the West.

America should continue to be the place of inspiration and innovation. Our country has succeeded because we have consistently pushed the bounds of what is humanly possible. As we celebrate our 250th year, this is a reminder to reach for the Moon and stars.

The Artemis II mission should serve as a reminder of American excellence and motivate the next generation to continue on the path of discovery. Neil Armstrong said the lunar landing was a “giant leap for mankind.” With Artemis II, we take yet another giant leap.

It was an honor to witness these brave astronauts as they launched into space. I am watching them proudly from Earth, and I pray for their safe return.

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