How We Make Rockets That Reach the Moon

Join Dr. Roger Billings and the Science Live team as we explore how we make rockets that reach the Moon, featuring NASA’s Artemis II mission — the first crewed return to the Moon in over 50 years!

In this lesson, discover what makes the massive SLS rocket so powerful: its giant solid rocket boosters, liquid hydrogen fuel, and the incredible engineering that lifts millions of pounds into space. You’ll also explore the advanced Orion spacecraft, the groundbreaking laser communication system that beamed HD video from 240,000 miles away, and the record-breaking 252,000-mile journey that took humans farther from Earth than ever before.

Whether you’re a budding space enthusiast, curious about the Artemis program, learning about rocket science, or dreaming of becoming an astronaut, this lesson has something for you. Perfect for students who want to understand the real engineering and technology behind sending rockets — and people — all the way to the Moon and beyond!

➡️ r-51’s Martian Pet Rock Guide

About DrB

Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology. As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


Read more about DrB » 
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »

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10,467 Comments

  1. Queen

    Are rockets powered by renewable energy becoming more popular? More specifically, will rockets fueled by renewable energy become mainstream, and possibly replace regular rockets? Will that be the case in order to conserve the envioronment? Or, will it come to fruition because of specific costs compared to fossil fuel powered rockets?

    Reply
  2. Zachary

    Very cool. Take me to the moon…..

    Reply
  3. Artem

    Why the planets are round? Because their gravity pulls matter equally from all sides toward their center of mass.

    Reply
  4. Mercedes

    this was really cool to watch

    Reply
  5. Grayson

    can we make a rocket more effcient

    Reply
  6. Ayonna

    science live is so fun to watch

    Reply
  7. Dominick

    The Artemis II rocket used Liquid Hydrogen as its fuel and Liquid Oxygen as the oxidizer!

    Reply
  8. Isabella

    Truly amazing what the human race is capable of. I wonder what sort of space and rocket museums are near me.

    Reply
  9. Nouha

    amazing, see you next time

    Reply
  10. Gianna

    this was great

    Reply
  11. Angelina

    I liked the video

    Reply
  12. Benjamin

    Hey what’s your favorite episode

    Reply
  13. Marygrace

    Awesome episode!!!

    Reply
  14. Jameson

    The solid rocket boosters are a mixture of oxidizers . Inclides a combination of ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer and powdered aluminum as the fuel.

    Thank you see you next time

    Reply
  15. Rebekah

    Hello from KY! Thank you so much, Acellus, for teaching me so much about space and everything else! I missed the Proteges, looking forward to seeing everyone again nest week!

    Reply
  16. Ian

    the Artemis mession and the Apollo mission are similar but the Artemis mission was more built.

    Reply
  17. Michael

    omg… r51 is hilarious!! love his nasa 51 and his moon rocks!! i loved tonights science live and getting to learn about artemis.

    Reply
  18. Milani

    area 51 is always my favorite!!!!

    Reply
  19. Nyzir

    Hello, it was great

    Reply
  20. Megan

    Hello Science Live! The advanced tech NASA has been working on and how much humanity has progressed in traveling to space, even now planning to be beyond the Moon is amazing! Thank you Acellus for another week of Science Live and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

    Reply
  21. Naiyla

    Wow, wonderful this is very exciting!

    Reply
  22. Harrison

    I think that you should take apart r-51 because doesn’t he no that no one has ben on mars.

    Reply
  23. Makis

    Hello from Maine. Love science lie!

    Reply
  24. Eduardo

    You think I can make a homemade small rocket?

    Reply
  25. Mara

    Always love these!!

    Reply
  26. Maya

    Hi from Texas i loved this video have a good night

    Reply
  27. Nathan

    Learning about the Artimis program it was very intresting. Thank you Accelus

    Reply
  28. Alyssa

    I learned so much can’t wait for the next video!

    Reply
  29. Elian

    how long does it take too build a rocket?

    Reply
  30. Helario

    i love the vids RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! science is now live

    Reply
  31. Brianna

    we all love these lives! they are amazing!

    Reply
  32. Jayla

    Thank you for another amazing science live!

    Reply
  33. Evelyn

    I like the video.

    Reply
  34. Kade

    I like rockets

    Reply
  35. Walker

    this is good

    Reply
  36. Athena

    What kind of technology is required for live streaming from space to us here on Earth?

    Reply
  37. Elena

    Can’t wait until we land on the Moon again!

    Reply
  38. Cole

    Hello from MD

    Reply
  39. Ella

    It is so cool that the first rocket was called Apollo, and the newer models are called Artemis, I really like it! Great science live, can’t wait for next week!

    Reply
  40. Abraham

    What happens when the rocket overheats?

    Reply
  41. Elian

    its crazy that people can be on the moon

    Reply
  42. Sonny

    Great science live

    Reply
  43. Lily

    Can I do dual credit with Acellus?

    Reply
  44. Vargen

    The crocodile is actually known as Deinosuchus which means terrible crocodile which has a bite force of 18,000 N and over 100,000 N which rivals a T-rex.

    Reply
  45. Trenton

    hi from texas

    Reply
  46. Aaram

    Until next week.

    Reply
  47. Gavyn

    hello from georgia

    Reply
  48. Jack

    When is the regular figit spinner going to be back in stock?

    Reply
  49. Trey

    I liked this vid alot

    Reply
  50. Gage

    How much fuel was used for artemis II to go around the moon?

    Reply
  51. Sophia

    Rockets are really interesting to me!

    Reply
  52. Hailey

    I wish I could go to the Moon!

    Reply
  53. Edward

    The launch was SO cool to watch!

    Reply
  54. Sophia

    I love science fairs!!

    Reply
  55. Brianna

    loved this live !

    Reply
  56. Ashlyn

    Thank you for this amazing episode! Can’t wait for next!

    Reply
  57. Dallis

    This weeks science live was very interesting to watch.

    Reply
  58. Emily

    I didn’t know that you could get in the gravitational pull to send a
    Rocket back home.🚀🔭👩‍🚀🧑‍🚀👨‍🚀🛰️

    Reply
  59. Jayden

    Great video.

    Reply
  60. Philip

    Thanks for another great Live!

    Reply
  61. Alicia

    Awesome video! To the moon we go!

    Reply
  62. Cole

    Thanks for science live real appreciated!!

    Reply
  63. Jonathan

    Hello from Arizona

    Reply
  64. Sebastian

    Thank you guys for this weeks science live!

    Reply
  65. Bradyn

    I love the moon

    Reply
  66. Vitor

    That was a really great episode

    Reply
  67. Charlotte

    I love science live!

    Reply
  68. Seraphina

    I LOVE learning about rockets!! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  69. Annabelle

    It is interesting!

    Reply
  70. Cally

    I loved this! It was so interesting & educational!

    Reply
  71. Jonathan

    HI FROM SOUTH CAROLINA-JS

    Reply
  72. Loveah

    this is so neat!

    Reply
  73. Brady

    what month do you think they will do the space mission in 2027 and 2028?

    Reply
  74. Willow

    Hello from NC!

    Reply
  75. Michael

    I can see an image of a satellite shooting lasers, but it’s signal beam pointing connection at earth. Their mission is sending a satellite around the moon.

    Reply
  76. Madison

    Hello from Mississippi. I really enjoyed this live….

    Reply
  77. Coy

    It was interesting that they had two side things that would hold gas. It was cool that the rocket that
    they sent to space and it is 6 million pounds, and that cand hold 8 million pounds. It was interesting
    that they put a type of gas in the rocket ship, and it would last a very long time. If they didn’t have
    a certain type of gas they wouldn’t go very long, because normal gas they wouldn’t go far.

    Reply
  78. Lorenzo

    Thank you for the lesson!

    Reply
  79. Kyla

    I think it is cool how we got to learn about what makes a rocket powerful and about Artemis ll mission

    Reply
  80. Blake

    I saw Artemis ll launch.

    Reply
  81. Abigail

    Thank you for this amazing science live!

    Reply
  82. Jaden

    Love this show!

    Reply
  83. Gage

    Loved the launch and talking about it.

    Reply
  84. Londyn

    Hello from Georgia

    Reply
  85. Isabella

    rockets are very cool to learn about!

    Reply
  86. Noah

    here from ia

    Reply
  87. Carson

    Thanks so much for another amazing live!

    Reply
  88. Mckenzie

    Loved the lesson thank you!

    Reply
  89. Iysys

    I enjoyed learning this week about rockets and the earth. Thank you Science live team!

    Reply
  90. Laura

    Amazing live!!!

    Reply
  91. Micah

    This was a great video, I loved it!

    Reply
  92. Matthew

    I love science love!

    Reply
  93. Khased

    Atlanta Ga is the best place.

    Reply
  94. Ar`lexia

    I like the video so much in I want to go to nasa in 51 you did good job on
    the rocket in I want to work at nasa.

    Reply
  95. Allie

    Enjoyed again cant wait for next week.

    Reply
  96. Joziah

    hello from california.

    Reply
  97. Tresley

    Awesome photos and videos of Artemis II. Thanks for that

    Reply
  98. Jonathan

    HI FROM SOUTH CARLINA-JS

    Reply
  99. Truman

    Would AI ever develop to the point where it could identify DNA of ancient creatures?

    Reply
  100. Avery

    That’s cool

    Reply
  101. Nathan

    Hello from GA, I’m enjoying science live.

    Reply
  102. Leticia

    Awesome live!

    Reply
  103. Mia

    I really liked it and i think science is very fun and i love doing science so i very much enjoy science live!

    Reply
  104. Alessandra

    The landing of Artemis 2 was amazing! I always enjoy these Science Lives, especially when talking about the moon or earth.

    Reply
  105. Elyssa

    Hi from MS!

    Reply
  106. Neilyn

    So happy to talk about rockets !

    Reply
  107. Chris

    What causes the Earthshine during a Solar Eclipse?

    Reply
  108. Braydon

    Here from Va. LOVE THIS!! *

    Reply
  109. Lilliana

    I’m excited for the rocket launch! From nj!

    Reply
  110. Wynter

    Greetings from Wisconsin!

    Reply
  111. Johnnie

    See you next Wednesday!!!!

    Reply
  112. Paris

    I loved this life

    Reply
  113. Ethan

    hi from Illinois

    Reply
  114. Isabella

    This years science fair is going to be great i just know it

    Reply
  115. Keano

    Does the college prep class also teach things like taxes, how to prepare ourselves for such things?

    Reply
  116. Lane

    Hi I am Lane poythress so happy to be here learning!

    Reply
  117. Rowan

    I’m excitied about Artemis 2!

    Reply
  118. Tristan

    can we make them more compact

    Reply
  119. Jade

    hello for new jersey

    Reply
  120. Sean

    Computing where to send the rocket to land on the moon which is moving in space and the math to figure it out is amazing. That must be very difficult, way beyond the pre alegebra I am studying now.

    Reply
  121. Gabriel

    I didn’t know that it took the spaceships 1 second to come from the moon to the earth and vice versa, that’s pretty fast!

    Reply
  122. Gabe

    CommentWhere can I find these “Moon Rocks?’

    Reply
  123. Kaicen

    I enjoy watching this every week

    Reply
  124. Hudson

    I Love Science Live

    Reply
  125. James

    I loved the explanation about Artemis II.

    Reply
  126. Phoebe

    im from kentucky

    Reply
  127. Jenna

    It was cool to hear you talk about the Artemis II mission.

    Reply
  128. Lena

    I think going to the moon is really exciting.

    Reply
  129. Mikayla

    Awesome live, that giant crocodile looks so cool. You guys should talk about the technology Archeologists use.

    Reply
  130. Aaram

    Thanks r-51 you are funny. Thanks Dr. Billings.

    Reply
  131. Osiris

    This live was awesome!

    Reply
  132. Caleb

    Hi From Parksley, Virginia.

    Reply
  133. Charlotte

    I love rockets.

    Reply
  134. Addison

    That was really cool! I love learning about lunar missions, and I’m so excited for the next ones!! 🚀

    Reply
  135. Liam

    You are so funny r51

    Reply
  136. Tonya

    Hello from Florida!

    Reply
  137. Rose

    This episode was really cool.

    Reply
  138. Charles

    This is so cool.

    Reply
  139. Landyn

    Thank you for all the science lives.

    Reply
  140. Savannah

    hey this is Savannah from Texas

    Reply
  141. Aria

    The Moon and back.

    Reply
  142. Jennasea

    Hello from Oregon

    Reply
  143. Mariah

    Thank you!

    Reply
  144. Carmelo

    carmelo newport news virginia

    Reply
  145. Sidrah

    LOVEEE SPACEEE!!!!

    Reply
  146. Kaylee

    bye see y’all next week

    Reply
  147. Dominic

    how amazing to be here when Artemis set the record of the biggest rocket!? And had a women and African American aboard! Truly in awe!

    Reply
  148. Oscar

    how many dinasors have we found in the last decade.

    Reply
  149. Hannah

    Great video!

    Reply
  150. Iysys

    I enjoyed learning this week about rockets and the earth! Thank you Science live team.

    Reply
  151. Carli

    I had a idea that will change the world! It is about Mercury powder. Well, that’s all I can tell you for right now! I’ll have more information about my research in the future. Till then bye🙋

    Reply
  152. Donavyn

    what is giubit

    Reply
  153. Alyssa

    hi from nc!

    Reply
  154. Jayden

    it’s cool how alligators can eat big dinosaur and it’s also cool how big that rochet is is even bigger than the statue of leberty and it was cool how they made the mission.

    Reply
  155. Mia

    I really liked it and i think science is very fun and i love doing it so much!

    Reply
  156. Jullianna

    Are you guys broadcasting science live differently because it seams like the video at least on my part isn’t live because it gives the option to rewind and fast forward it?

    Reply
  157. Braylon

    It’s nice that the computers on the image you talked about runs a lot more faster making quick strategies, and able to use a different computer if that signal goes out. I love the improvement!

    Reply
  158. Cassi

    Rockets really amaze me

    Reply
  159. Ella

    I really enjoyed learning more about the Artemis II mission as I’ve been really intrested in it as of late! the football field analogy was very interesting! I didn’t know that the rocket was that huge!

    Reply
  160. Jayson

    Such an awesome video, and learning how the precise engineers need to be.

    Reply
  161. Alanna

    see you guys next week!

    Reply
  162. Karington

    How long do scientists think it will be until humans can visit mars and come back?

    Reply
  163. Brianna

    hello from nebraska

    Reply
  164. Stevie

    Loved the episode and hearing all about the Artemis mission, I’ve been wondering ever since the launch if you guys were gunn bring it up and wah, look at that! Lol. Tonight was so fun, this has to be one of my favorite episodes yet. You all did great and I cannot wait till next week. Have a good weekend!♡

    Reply
  165. Armaeriwilson

    I like the video and talking about moon rocks and rocket it was so cool bye.

    Reply
  166. Aidric

    I love the moon so much, I love it to the moon and back and to the milky way and back.

    Reply
  167. Natalie

    I have never seen an airplane like that, how interesting!

    Reply
  168. Tristen

    Science live was amazing.

    Reply
  169. Thomas

    Hi from ND

    Reply
  170. Abel

    It was cool to see them go around the moon. Space is so amazing. I learned that a black hole the size of a penny weighs as much as the Earth.

    Reply
  171. Peyton

    this was nice

    Reply
  172. Sarah

    This episode was very interesting

    Reply
  173. Marina

    Hi from Cape Cod! I loved learning about Artemis 2 and how rockets function.

    Reply
  174. Jayden

    You should sell some sort of r-51 memorabilia.

    Reply
  175. Quynn

    So exciting to hear about Artemis II. Can’t wait for 2028 to see an actual moon landing and be part of history. Be even cooler to see someone land on Mars

    Reply

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