Also, the moon is Full at 9:12 this evening and it’s absolutely beautiful. It even seems more special in light of today’s launch. Step out and take a look!
A Beautiful Launch of Artemis
At 5:35 pm this Wednesday evening a new era in space exploration began! We now have humans in the skies above us that are headed back to the Moon for the first time since 1972. What a day!
The launch was flawless against the backdrop of a gorgeous Florida blue sky. Until now, only white American men have traveled to the moon. Today, that is changing. By the time this 10-day mission is complete, a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian will have ventured to the moon for the first time…..ever. What a remarkable moment in human history!
One thing that needs to be made clear is that these astronauts will not walk on the moon. They won’t even land on it. They will, however, fly around the back side of the moon and then return home. Someone remarked that it’s like they’re looking for a parking place for the next time. haha
The next mission will be Artemis 3 and it will dock with different systems and make sure all of the ducks are in a row for Artemis 4. Artemis 4 will land on the moon. That mission is planned for early 2028.
There are some interesting things about Artemis that wasn’t true for Apollo. Today’s mission, for example, has a toilet! It’s the little things, right? lol Apollo misisons had no toilet (let your imagination run wild. ha!). You really don’t want to know what the Apollo astronauts had to go through with bathroom activities. Today’s mission also contains MUCH better food. They even have mac-n-cheese options and for those of us who are diehard mac-n-cheese fans, that sounds pretty awesome. Incidentally, they choose Galaxy Brownies for dessert. Those brownies don’t create crumbs, making them ideal. Heck, that’s probably about all I’d eat. LOL They also have 30% more space than the Apollo astronauts, even with four astronauts onboard this mission (Apollo only ever had three at at time).
This mission today will venture farther out in space than we’ve ever been. We wish them all the best with that. The most dangerous part of the mission, in my opinion, is over. The take-off is the most nerve-wrecking part. From here on out it’s rather straightforward, with the exception being that part where we head off to the moon after circling earth many times. Then, we slingshot around the back of the moon and then slingshot our way back home. Interestingly, thanks to the gravitiational players involved, they won’t even need any fuel to come back home.
They’ll splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast at the end of the mission.
On Monday, April 6, the astronauts will fly around the back side of the moon. How cool will that be!?
Some of you have probably seen me post about Dr. Luna being accepted as one of 10 scientists to help with this lunar project. It is quite the exciting opportunity and the department that I’m in at TTU, along with all of TTU, are so incredibly blessed to have Dr. Luna. Her expertise in planetary mapping will play a critical role in preparing astronauts for the challenges of the lunar south polar region. More information on that can be found at https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/25-26/tech-faculty-member-selected-by-nasa-to-support-artemis-moon-mission.php
We wish these astronauts all the best! I can’t wait to see where this all goes next!
When you look up at the moon over the next week, think of how cool it is to know that we’re going back. So very cool, indeed!
In the video below, jump to 1:50 if you want to get to the 10 second countdown. Also, NASA needs to partner with SpaceX on video performance…….. just sayin’. ha
MM’s Wed 5-Day: It’s Launch Day!
Issued Wednesday morning, April 1, 2026
Happy April Fool’s Day! Remember, Shakespeare once wrote that a fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool!
It’s Artemis launch day!!! Artemis is man’s return to the Moon. In this 10-day mission, the four astronauts will loop around the Moon and then return home. The launch is scheduled for 5:24 pm CDT. Watch live at NASA.gov
Check out the new radar, brought to us by WeatherTAP! Let me know if you have any feedback!
Be sure to follow this site and/or download the free Meteorologist Mark app from your app store to get updates about the weather of the Cumberland Plateau sent to your phone as soon as I send them out. Thank you all so much!
MM’s Level of Concern
MM’s Forecast for the Plateau
Local matters, especially when it comes to your weather forecast! Bringing you your local weather since 2017!
This forecast is tailor-made for the Cumberland Plateau by Meteorologist Mark Baldwin each day!
We should finally see some showers on the radar today!
As we watch for those showers, we’ll also be watching for Artemis II at 5:24 this evening! What an exciting day!
Scattered showers and storms today will likely be at about 50% chances. Those chances dwindle down for Thursday and Friday. By Saturday, we’ll see more scattered showers, though Saturday is not looking like a washout.
The BEST chance for rain comes Saturday night. Hopefully we can get that front to clear out of here in time to give us a pretty Easter. Fingers crossed!
It looks like our next frost will come Sunday night! That should be Blackberry winter?
Threat Outlook
Today’s greatest risk for severe threats can be found fro m Texas to Kansas and again from the Ohio Valley to the Mid Atlantic coast. Our high pressure is steering everything around us again.
Wx Related Aches & Pains Forecast
Allergy & Pollen Forecast (New!)
6-10 Day Temp & Precip Outlook
On This Day
Weather Stats
Radar-Estimated Precip From the Past 24 Hours
Drought Monitor
This graphic is updated each Tuesday and released to the public on Thursday.
Proudly contracted with Crossville City Fire for important weather info. Thanks for trusting me with your weather since 2024, City Fire!
Thank You, Sponsors!
Visit Stubbs Generators to see how they can meet your generator needs https://stubbsgenerators.com/
Visit Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union at https://www.ucfcu.org/ to see how they can serve you!
Visit Clearview Closet & Blind at https://www.closetandblind.com/ or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/closetandblind
Contact Plateau Sanitation at https://shorturl.at/9Tkxg or give them a call at 931-277-5900!
To see what Sheryl Webb can do for your real-estate needs, visit https://sheryl-webb.wrthewebbagency.com/
Contact WeatherTAP at https://www.weathertap.com/
Other important weather information will be shared when needed. This includes additional severe weather information, model data, drought info, hurricane info, and more. Some of these can be found as tabs to this page at any time.
Disclaimer: This website/app should never be considered your primary source of severe weather warnings.
MM’s Tues 5-Day: March Goes Out Like a Lamb
Issued Tuesday morning, March 31, 2026
Check out the new radar, brought to us by WeatherTAP! Let me know if you have any feedback!
Be sure to follow this site and/or download the free Meteorologist Mark app from your app store to get updates about the weather of the Cumberland Plateau sent to your phone as soon as I send them out. Thank you all so much!
MM’s Level of Concern
MM’s Forecast for the Plateau
Local matters, especially when it comes to your weather forecast! Bringing you your local weather since 2017!
This forecast is tailor-made for the Cumberland Plateau by Meteorologist Mark Baldwin each day!
After coming in like a lamb, March will also go out like a lamb. I’m not sure anyone is complaining about that! (ha)
We’ll see lots of clouds today, along with a chance for a sprinkle or two.
A better chance for showers comes Wednesday, with scattered showers and even a possible t-storm. Thursday looks mostly dry before another 50% chance for scattered shrs/t-storms comes Friday.
The best chance for rain this week may come Saturday night as a cold front passes through. Right now, Easter Sunday is looking drier in the wake of the Saturday night cold frontal passase. I’ll keep a close eye on that Easter forecast.
Threat Outlook
Today’s greatest risk for severe threats can be found across western Oklahoma and again from Illinois to New York state.
Wx Related Aches & Pains Forecast
Allergy & Pollen Forecast (New!)
6-10 Day Temp & Precip Outlook
On This Day
Weather Stats
Radar-Estimated Precip From the Past 24 Hours
Drought Monitor
This graphic is updated each Tuesday and released to the public on Thursday.
Proudly contracted with Crossville City Fire for important weather info. Thanks for trusting me with your weather since 2024, City Fire!
Thank You, Sponsors!
Visit Stubbs Generators to see how they can meet your generator needs https://stubbsgenerators.com/
Visit Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union at https://www.ucfcu.org/ to see how they can serve you!
Visit Clearview Closet & Blind at https://www.closetandblind.com/ or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/closetandblind
Contact Plateau Sanitation at https://shorturl.at/9Tkxg or give them a call at 931-277-5900!
To see what Sheryl Webb can do for your real-estate needs, visit https://sheryl-webb.wrthewebbagency.com/
Contact WeatherTAP at https://www.weathertap.com/
Other important weather information will be shared when needed. This includes additional severe weather information, model data, drought info, hurricane info, and more. Some of these can be found as tabs to this page at any time.
Disclaimer: This website/app should never be considered your primary source of severe weather warnings.