NASA will get its mojo again with a surprising nighttime launch of the SLS rocket

Enlarge / NASA’s House Launch System rocket lifts off on Wednesday morning from Kennedy House Middle.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.—The skies had been auspicious throughout the wee hours of Wednesday morning, because the Artemis I mission ticked down its last seconds till liftoff.

Ten, 9, eight seconds …

Shining brightly, close to the southern horizon, was the constellation Orion, namesake to NASA’s new deep area car.