Shane Hewitt and The NightshiftShane Hewitt and The Nightshift

The First Launch I Have Watched Since Challenger

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Artemis 2 launched today and for one person watching, the last time a space launch was watched all the way through was 1986. Crisscross applesauce on a library floor in grade six. The angles looked familiar tonight and the breath held the same way at booster separation. Nothing bad happened. That took a minute to fully register.

What does it feel like to watch the first countdown you have ever watched live and realize nine minutes in they are in orbit and the relief in the livestream is audible? Ryan O'Donnell had never done it before. He had toys of the Space Shuttle as a kid but had no idea where it was going. Going around the moon is different. The moon will be as close to the crew as a basketball held at arm's length. The photos coming back will be seen in textbooks.

Jeremy Hansen is the Canadian on board. CF-18 pilot. Astronaut. The kind of person you clone if you are building the future of Canada. There is a conversation with him already in the podcast feed from last fall if you want to understand who he is before the photos start arriving.

Topics: Artemis 2 launch Canada, Jeremy Hansen astronaut, Challenger space shuttle memory, moon mission 2025, booster separation anxiety

Originally aired on 2026-04-01

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Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. 
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