Malta’s Stargazers Tune in to NASA’s Artemis I Moon Launch

As the sun begins to set over the Atlantic, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, a crowd gathers at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They’re not here for a sunset, but for a spectacle that’s been years in the making. NASA’s Artemis I mission, the first step in returning humans to the Moon, is set to launch tonight. And while the launchpad is 8,000 kilometers away, Malta’s space enthusiasts are ready to watch history unfold.

Back in Malta, the Malta Space Club is hosting a launch party at their headquarters in Msida. The club, a hub for local space enthusiasts, is buzzing with excitement. Members have set up telescopes in the courtyard, ready to capture the moment the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lights up the night sky. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” says club president, Mark Attard. “It’s not just about watching a launch, it’s about being part of a new era of space exploration.”

Across the island, schools and universities are also getting in on the action. The University of Malta’s Department of Physics is hosting a live stream event, while schools like St. Aloysius College are organizing viewing parties for their students. “This is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,” says Dr. Joseph Caruana, a lecturer at the University of Malta.

The Artemis I mission marks the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, the SLS rocket, and the ground systems at Kennedy. But for Malta’s stargazers, it’s more than just a test. It’s a chance to witness the beginning of a new chapter in human spaceflight.

The launch window opens at 8:33 PM EDT (2:33 AM CEST), and if all goes according to plan, the SLS rocket will roar to life, carrying the Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the Moon. After separating from the rocket, Orion will spend six days in lunar orbit before heading back to Earth. If you’re watching from Malta, keep an eye on the eastern horizon around 3:30 AM CEST on Friday. That’s when Orion is expected to make its closest approach to the Moon.

But the excitement doesn’t stop at the launch. The Artemis program has big plans for the future. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight of Orion, and Artemis III aims to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface. “This is just the beginning,” says Attard. “We’re going back to the Moon, and this time, we’re staying.”

NASA TV will provide live coverage of the launch, with commentary from NASA experts. You can watch the launch live on NASA’s website, or tune in to local TV stations that will be broadcasting the event. The Malta Space Club will also be streaming the launch on their Facebook page.

If you’re planning to watch from a dark location, you might even be able to see the launch with the naked eye. The SLS rocket is the most powerful in the world, and its bright exhaust will be visible for several minutes after liftoff. “It’s a sight you won’t forget,” says Caruana. “It’s like a star falling to Earth, then rising again into the heavens.”