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 NASAโ€™s Artemis II mission โ€” 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. Youโ€™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 โ€” and people โ€” all the way to the Moon and beyond!

โžก๏ธ 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 โ€œDrBโ€ 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 DrBโ€™s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to โ€œgive backโ€ by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


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About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program ยป

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10,467 Comments

  1. Aiden

    i love learning about how we reach the moon

    Reply
  2. Zachary

    NICE LESSOM

    Reply
  3. Aaron

    How big do they think the massive prehistoric crocodile got or could get.

    Reply
  4. Aiden

    It was great to see the Artemis 2 capsule fall.

    Reply
  5. Aidan

    artemis went really smooth!

    Reply
  6. Ah-lon

    I loved this episode! My favorite part was the Breakthrough Moments in Science by Dr. John. Artemis II has a new communication system which bumps up the speed to 250 MB and produce 4K video. They were able to stream it through video by using a special optical system which uses a 4 inch telescope capturing a laser with accuracy to the 1000th degree. I can’t wait for the next episode!

    Reply
  7. Addison

    How is communication so clear?

    Reply
  8. Adyn

    Really great

    Reply
  9. Aidan

    How much did it cost to make the optical computer?

    Reply
  10. Aaron

    Love Artemis 2!!! Awesome video.

    Reply
  11. Abigail

    This was very interesting. I watched the Artemis 2 launch, and it was truly one of a kind experience, and it was awesome to learn more about this mission and what went behind to launch the Artemis 2!

    Reply
  12. Abigail

    my dad is always so fascinated by rocket launches. he gets so excited to watch them

    Reply
  13. Abby

    artemis 2 has been my obsesoin since they launched it was so cool

    Reply
  14. Adrik

    Great episode as always this made me like rockets even more lol.

    Reply
  15. Adalynn

    I loved learning about rockets,

    Reply
  16. Aidai

    Artemis 2 was so exciting!!

    Reply
  17. Adylynn

    I LOVEEE Space! My dad and i look through the telescope ALOT

    Reply
  18. Wythe

    I love science live

    Reply
  19. Xyla

    Can astronauts play online video games in space now?

    Reply
  20. Addie

    Comment loved watching this week’s video!

    Reply
  21. Abbie

    I watched the spaceship launch this year. I thought they were going to land on the moon not just fly around it. NASA is back!

    Reply
  22. Aiden

    great sciance live

    Reply
  23. Aiden

    I really like learning about the space rockets

    Reply
  24. Adrianna

    Another great Science Live!

    Reply
  25. Zoey

    Another great live, thank-you!

    Reply
  26. Zidan

    I love Artemis 2

    Reply
  27. Xavier

    I think outer space is really cool because of all the planets and galaxy’s.

    Reply
  28. Zuriel

    The Artemis mission was so cool to watch!

    Reply
  29. Zayne

    Science live is the best.

    Reply
  30. Yasmine

    This live was so cool!

    Reply
  31. Aiden

    This science live was neat!

    Reply
  32. Adrian

    I love space!

    Reply
  33. Yuliya

    Thanks for the interesting episode.

    Reply
  34. Yosef

    I love science live cause it’s so cool.

    Reply
  35. Zlata

    I love science live

    Reply
  36. Adam

    It’s amazing that Artemis is working with SpaceX, and we’ll finally go back to the moon, and I think it’s perfect to build a space station for the moon. Thank you Acellus.

    Reply
  37. Zackery

    this video is amazing Dr. Billing

    Reply
  38. Zoe

    Yet another awesome science live. Thank you! Space is so interesting, I canโ€™t believe we are able to go to the moon and stay in space for months! Canโ€™t wait for more successful missions like Artemis ll

    Reply
  39. Aaron

    Comment*
    Science Live is always interesting to watch. R-51 is funny.

    Reply
  40. .

    science is my favorite subject

    Reply
  41. Zaira

    When I grow up I want to go to the moon!

    Reply
  42. Xavier

    great live science.

    Reply
  43. Yahaira

    Always wondered about the space rocket ships. So glad I finally got to learn some facts!

    Reply
  44. Adalyn

    See you next week.

    Reply
  45. Aiden

    The fact some people dont believe the moon landing is wild to me

    Reply
  46. Aaron

    Those things probably still exist in Florida

    Reply
  47. Aiden

    I love science live ๐Ÿ˜

    Reply
  48. Aeriana

    This video is SO cool!

    Reply
  49. Zoe

    It was so neat to learn about this Artemis mission!!

    Reply
  50. Addy

    loved this!! so intresting cant wait for next week!!

    Reply
  51. Aiden

    I always enjoy watching Science Live. Cant wait for next week.

    Reply
  52. Aiden

    This is so cool to watch especially after watching the Artemis 2 launch/touchdown

    Reply
  53. Adonis

    If they held their thumb up they could cover earth

    Reply
  54. Zlata

    Thank you

    Reply
  55. Zlata

    Thank you for the video and for the example

    Reply
  56. Zlata

    Thank you for the video

    Reply
  57. Zoei

    Every week, I learn more and more! I missed the Science Fair this year but next year Iโ€™m coming to win!

    Reply
  58. A

    My grand parnets will love this

    Reply
  59. Zander

    I liked learning about the gravity slingshot

    Reply
  60. Aiden

    I saw the Artemis 2 launch from my house!

    Reply
  61. Aaden

    can’t wait for next week!

    Reply
  62. Zaiden

    i wonder if there could be lighter forms of fuel other than hydrogen

    Reply
  63. Zoey

    science live teaches me a lot, love rockets!!

    Reply
  64. Adalynn

    I love that science live teaches us and shows us the little behind the scenes about these rockets! Can’t wait until next week!

    Reply
  65. Abigail

    The space episodes are my favorite! I love astronomy and the science of traveling in outer space, love science live!!

    Reply
  66. Abigail

    The space episodes are my favorite! I love astronomy and the science that goes with traveling outer space! love science live

    Reply
  67. Adalynn

    I loved learning about rockets.

    Reply
  68. Adrian

    Great video!

    Reply
  69. Aayan

    Why is the space so dark? The sun makes earth so bright by shinning from above but how come the sun can’t make the space light up the same way?

    Reply
  70. Zander

    What was your opinion on us sending the golden record into space with the voyager 3, making anything that finds it, lets them know everything about us.

    Reply
  71. Zayden

    I love science live i can’t wait to learn more

    Reply
  72. Addyson

    It’s incredible that they can communicate with the astronauts all the way in space!

    Reply
  73. Addison

    I love science live itโ€™s so fun to watch and listen to!!

    Reply
  74. Aiden

    I loved this video, my family and I watched Artemis 2 since we live in Florida.

    Reply
  75. Abigail

    Hi from South Carolina

    Reply
  76. Ziva

    Science live is so interesting!

    Reply
  77. Adrienne

    soo cool but by im done with all my clases

    Reply
  78. Adi

    that is cool!

    Reply
  79. Adelynn

    Itโ€™s amazing that Artemis II is the first manned spacecraft by U.S.A. to take a trip around the moon in over 50 years .

    Reply
  80. Xayden

    it was so neat to watch the artemis 2! I want to go to the moon some day!

    Reply
  81. Addilynn

    I enjoyed learning about rockets.

    Reply
  82. Zoe

    i love this science live

    Reply
  83. Zechariah

    i loved this vide i js love science live in general

    Reply
  84. Zhel

    I love learning about rockets! thanks for another science live!

    Reply
  85. Adam

    Amazing science live

    Reply
  86. Zeth

    super cool

    Reply
  87. Zaidie

    Can the rockets be bigger or smaller than we have now? So like say the biggest rocket we have now and the smallest rocket we have now could they get even bigger or even smaller, why or why not? This is something I have always wondered looking at rocket sizes. Due to the fact, Would they even reach the moon?

    Reply
  88. Zoe

    I loved hearing about the SLS Rocket used in the second Artemis mission!

    Reply
  89. Abigail

    The Artemis capsule was so interesting. I love scince live.

    Reply
  90. Zander

    Hello from Arkansas…Great episode!!

    Reply
  91. Zaidan

    This is so cool.

    Reply
  92. Addison

    I learned about Artemis! Very cool.

    Reply
  93. Addison

    Those rockets are cool.

    Reply
  94. Aiden

    hello from Georgia

    Reply
  95. Adalynn

    I think I would like to go to space.

    Reply
  96. Adeline

    I love Acellus!

    Reply
  97. Adam

    I liked how those astronauts were the record breakers for traveling the farthest from the earth!

    Reply
  98. Xander

    science live always makes my day better

    Reply
  99. Yvette

    Comment When will we make it to mars?

    Reply
  100. Zenia

    Can’t wait to see you all this year!

    Reply
  101. Zane

    I really liked this episode. The SLS rocket is very cool!

    Reply
  102. Abby

    I’m excited to follow th Artemis missions to see where they go in my lifetime!

    Reply
  103. Yodsawad

    I never knew rockets were so exciting, I love Science Live!

    Reply
  104. Abby

    I enjoyed the space facts and information, space is such a fascinating topic. I loved this live so much!

    Reply
  105. Zulmelia

    Canโ€™t wait for this!!!

    Reply
  106. Zulmelia

    Canโ€™t wait for science fair

    Reply
  107. Yaretzi

    Todays video was so interesting and exciting to watch!!!

    Reply
  108. Abby

    This was so interesting!

    Reply
  109. Abigale

    I watched the Artemis 2 capsule fall back onto earth live and it was awesome.

    Reply
  110. Abigail

    It was neat about the monsters that would eat dinosaurs. I also loved learning about space!

    Reply
  111. Adler

    Great video.

    Reply
  112. Zander

    This is my favorite science live so far. I love learning about this

    Reply
  113. Afton

    I liked your joke!

    Reply
  114. Abaigail

    Astronaut s and rockets are so amazing and cool to

    Reply
  115. Xavier

    I am watching.

    Reply
  116. Adria

    I loved this live!!

    Reply
  117. Yullim

    The rocket sounds interesting.

    Reply
  118. Zeke

    I love rockets

    Reply
  119. Adia

    So cool!

    Reply
  120. Yettson

    I loved seeing Artemis 2!

    Reply
  121. Zoe

    I love astronauts!!

    Reply
  122. Aiden

    very cool but the walk-in at all, but I donโ€™t really think theyโ€™ll be easy to do about the moonlighting. I mean the moon base.

    Reply
  123. Adiellah

    Amazing perfect video I always look forward to watching science live

    Reply
  124. Zaydee

    great video

    Reply
  125. Aditya

    loved the episode!

    Reply
  126. Yutzil

    awesomeee!!!

    Reply
  127. Addison

    That new prep course sounds extremely helpful. Iโ€™ll have to consider that.
    The toilet problems on the Artemis II were funny but Iโ€™m sure that it was very problematic to the astronauts. The HD video is interesting considering what was available in the days of the Apollo mission.

    Reply
  128. Xavier

    I Loved When I Watched The Artemis II Launch Into Space After Nearly A Decade. I Was Up For Hours Thinking About Those Exciting Days.

    Reply
  129. Zane

    seeing a solar eclipse up close has to be sooo cool!

    Reply
  130. Yoon

    Space science is so interesting! Can people grow plants inside the Orion spacecraft?

    Reply
  131. Yoon

    I was surprised that humans traveled 252,000 miles away from Earth. How do astronauts sleep during the trip?

    Reply
  132. Yoon

    This was one of my favorite Science Live lessons! How much fuel does the SLS rocket use?

    Reply
  133. Zen

    Wow such a good episode. My son loves all things about the solar system.

    Reply
  134. Yusuf

    this was my favorite session!

    Reply
  135. Yusra

    Did NASA really go to the moon for the first time in 1969? If so, why did the flag appear to flutter in outer space even though there is no atmosphere to create wind? There are numerous conspiracy theories attempting to debunk the first moon landing, which caused me to be perplexed. Iโ€™m really looking forward to seeing NASA land on the moon again in 2028 to prove them and their theories wrong.

    Reply
  136. Yahia

    how many there possible planets that are still not discovered

    Reply
  137. Zayne

    It was amazing to watch this keep up the good work!

    Reply
  138. Aiden

    really amazing info!

    Reply
  139. Abby

    Seeing the developments in space exploration are so interesting!

    Reply
  140. Adam

    hello from NC

    Reply
  141. Zachary

    Rockets are so cool and I wish that one day I can see one in person! I enjoyed learning about them and would be interested in learning more on other episodes.

    Reply
  142. Zaiden

    Science in great

    Reply
  143. Zach

    I wanna see a man on the moon again someday!

    Reply
  144. Abdullah

    I have always been a big fan of rockets and travel to the moon. I did not know how fast the computers at the rocket are that it takes a sec to send and receive a message! Love learning something new.

    Reply
  145. Zeke

    I loved watching the rocket come back to earth!!

    Reply
  146. Abel

    i really like this silence live and i can’twait for the next won

    Reply
  147. Zane

    252,000 miles away from Earth is so far away that I can’t imagine how scary that would feel.

    Reply
  148. Adrielle

    The Deinosuchus Skeletal replica sounds amazing! But 31ft?! Normal crocodiles freak me out, so if those things were here today I swear I would find a way to build a rocket a fly to outer space!

    Reply
  149. Adam

    Cool video

    Reply
  150. Aidan

    Who used the toilet, and found out it was broken?

    Reply
  151. Zachary

    Interesting! Will research into the new English course.

    Reply
  152. Zachary

    learning about rockets is so fun

    Reply
  153. Adalynn

    I LOVE ACELLUSSSSSSS!!!

    Reply
  154. Adasynn

    The science live was very interesting this week!

    Reply
  155. Adelaide

    *why did he make him as a rock?

    Reply
  156. Zayvion

    Wow! I didnโ€™t know more about Artemis II.

    Reply
  157. Zayvion

    I didnโ€™t know about Artemis II.

    Reply
  158. Abigail

    This was so fun to watch. I really liked seeing the footage from inside the capsule, and hearing your story. Thank you so much for this amazing experience.

    Reply
  159. Addyson

    Traveling to space would be so awesome. an experience to forever remember.

    Reply
  160. Adriana

    Science live is my favorite!

    Reply
  161. Adam

    I love science live its the best!

    Reply
  162. Zoie

    Space Exploration is so cool what a time to be alive! ๐Ÿ˜

    Reply
  163. Xzavier

    Great lesson can’t wait for next week

    Reply
  164. Aidan

    I love space

    Reply
  165. Aarav

    We finally managed to watch Science Live and thanks Dr. Billings for making science fun to watch.

    Reply
  166. Zahir

    When did they make the journey to mars

    Reply
  167. Zoe

    I really enjoyed the rocket mission.

    Reply
  168. Adam

    Wow this was very interesting!

    Reply
  169. Zoe

    I absolutely loved learning about Artemis 1 and 2.!!!!!๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜Ž it was awesome can’t wait for next week…..!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  170. Zoe

    I loved learning about Artemis 1and 2.

    Reply
  171. Zoe

    I absolutely loved learning about the earth and all the astronauts that went on Artemis 1 and 2.

    Reply
  172. Yuber

    how big where those lazers that they used for communicattion?

    Reply
  173. Zalea

    I love watching the science lives! Always so much fun especially watching the capsules al back to earth.

    Reply
  174. Zephaniah

    This is amazing!

    Reply
  175. Aaron

    Amazing video, great job!

    Reply

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