A historic launch from NASA has sent four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years and a pivotal step toward deeper space exploration.
Key Takeaways
- NASA has launched Artemis II, its first crewed mission toward the Moon since the Apollo era ended in 1972
- Four astronauts are flying aboard the Orion spacecraft, marking the first time humans have tested the vehicle in deep space
- The 10-day mission will take the crew beyond low Earth orbit into cislunar space, farther than humans have traveled in decades
- Artemis II is a test flight only, with no Moon landing, focused on validating systems for future missions
- The launch proceeded after minor technical delays, with early flight data indicating systems are performing as expected, NASA says.
- The mission is a critical step toward Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface later this decade.
We have liftoff
Crucial Quote
“It’s the opening act… a test mission that sets up a golden age of science and discovery,” NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said.
Key Background
NASA’s Artemis program is designed to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo missions, which ended with Apollo 17 in 1972.
Artemis II is the first mission in that program to carry astronauts. The crew launched aboard the Space Launch System rocket and are travelling in the Orion spacecraft, which is being tested with humans in deep space for the first time.
The mission will not land on the Moon. Instead, it will loop around it and return to Earth, allowing engineers to assess performance, safety and onboard systems before attempting a landing mission later this decade.
Big Number
685,000 miles: The approximate distance Artemis II will travel during its journey around the Moon and back
Ground Control
This is a developing story. More to come.
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