Space Enthusiasts Watch Historic Orion Launch At Adler Planetarium
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Wind and technical problems held up the first attempt to launch NASA's first deep space exploration vehicle on Thursday, but not Friday morning, as the unmanned Orion spacecraft rocketed into orbit 3,600 miles above the Earth.
Adler Planetarium astronomer Michelle Nichols said it was just the first test launch of the kind of spacecraft that eventually will take astronauts to Mars.
The planetarium was hosting a free watch party Friday morning on the big screen at the Samuel Johnson Family Star Theater.
"What we were able to see was exactly what NASA was showing us, which is close-ups of the launch, and video from the rocket itself. So it was a video camera looking down along the length of the rocket," Nichols said. "So as things were happening, we were able to see that. We're seeing the boosters fall off; the stages separate; things come off the way they're supposed to. So it was exciting to be able to see that sort of live interaction, which sometimes doesn't always happen."
Throughout the test flight, experts were providing mission updates and analysis at the planetarium.
Nichols said the historic launch was like Christmas for her and other astronomers – professional and amateur.
"It's so fun, and it's amazing, because there are always like-minded people who want to be with other people to be able to enjoy something like this," she said. "It's also America's next step. This is the future of our space program going well so far."
A handful of space enthusiasts was at the Adler on Friday to watch the launch, and then the return home, when Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 20,000 miles an hour at about 11 a.m., after making a couple trips around the world.