The Artemis-II mission; Nasa’s first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years to the far side of the Moon

Four astronauts lifted off in the early hours of Thursday to mark a powerful return to deep space. The Orion spacecraft, riding a top Nasa’s Space Launch System, thundered out of the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Artemis-II mission is Nasa’s first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years.

The mission commanded by Reid Wiseman and carries a historic crew that includes the first woman, the first person of colour, and the first Canadian astronaut on a round trip to the far side of the Moon. The launch follows a series of delays, including a last-minute rollback of the rocket and technical fixes to resolve issues such as helium leaks, highlighting the complexity of sending humans beyond Earth orbit once again.

The crew will remain in Earth orbit on the first full day after the Artemis-II launch, focusing on critical system checks and preparations for the Moon-bound journey. The Orion spacecraft is in a multi-day orbit around Earth, allowing engineers and astronauts to verify that key systems, including propulsion, navigation, and life support, are functioning properly before committing to a lunar trajectory.