Dreams of a perfect vantage point were dashed.
NASA’s live broadcast of the Artemis II rocket launch on Wednesday faced backlash from viewers, who felt the cameras almost completely missed the moment. Some even claimed that the best views came from a passing airplane.
This significant footage showcased Artemis II successfully launching four astronauts—Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, and Victor Glover—into Earth’s orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission is set for ten days and includes an orbit around the moon.
If everything goes according to plan, it will mark the first lunar trip since Apollo 17’s landing in 1972, and it will venture deeper into space than ever before, reaching over 450,000 miles.
However, as the rockets launched, many viewers found themselves puzzled—why couldn’t they see the launch clearly?
One frustrated viewer on Reddit remarked, “After waiting years for this launch, we got the smoke.” They questioned the production, asking, “How do you not capture the entire rocket during launch?”
Critics pointed fingers at the alleged poor quality of the camera work, contrasting it with the high price tag of the rocket.
Another viewer expressed disappointment, stating, “The production was awful. It felt like the launch failed. Each stage of separation seemed to be obscured.”
One more commentator noted the “continuous black screens,” and remarked, “At one point, I saw what looked like an orange cloud.” There was a sense of confusion, with another person commenting, “Seriously, what was all that? A basic animator could have done better. My kids were baffled.”
Some even pointed out that there was a noticeable gap in footage during the ignition and launch phases. “First, ABC showcased the engine igniting from below, then the screen went black for 30 seconds before showing the rocket about 400 feet high,” exclaimed an irate user. “No live feed for the best part! Launch!”
It seems the issues extended beyond the launch itself.
“The camera even panned over to the crowd while the booster rocket was separating—the only interesting part post-launch,” a viewer noted.
Interestingly, some of the best angles of the moment came from Delta Air Lines Flight 1784, which was flying from Costa Rica to Atlanta. As the rocket took off, passengers caught the spectacular view, reported The Sun.
Kendall Baker shared about her cousin’s experience, saying, “He captured Artemis take off from his flight. So amazing!” The footage, showing white flames shooting from the thrusters, has already gained over a million views, with many claiming it’s “better than the NASA videos.”
A separate clip, purportedly from another plane, showcased the spacecraft as it arced toward the moon, leaving a smoky trail in its wake.
As of now, Artemis II continues in high orbit around Earth, with the crew engaged in system checks and manual piloting. The lunar journey is expected to take about three days, after which they will loop around the moon and utilize Earth’s gravity for their return.
