This is my third Orion launch, but it feels totally different

The author has attended Orion launches in 2014, 2022 and the current flight and finds the latest mission more hopeful.

The 2014 Exploration Flight Test-1 used a Delta IV Heavy and did not test lunar reentry conditions or carry lunar hardware.

Orion returned on the SLS for Artemis I in 2022, and NASA plans the Lunar Gateway as part of Artemis operations.

The SLS program involved costly elements including a Boeing upper stage project and a $2 billion launch tower.