Nasa s Artemis II mission takes off heading for first Moon visit in 50 years

Four astronauts launched into space on a large NASA rocket on Wednesday, starting a long-awaited trip around the Moon. This marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. At about 6:35 pm local time, the huge orange-and-white rocket lifted off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, making a loud roar that could be heard far beyond the launchpad. Three Americans and one Canadian were aboard. NASA staff and fans cheered as the spacecraft left Earth, celebrating a significant moment after many delays and high costs. “We’re going to the Moon!” shouted one observer. Before Artemis 2 was cleared for launch, the astronauts shared brief messages. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said, “We are going for all humanity.” Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson then spoke to the astronauts: “Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy: On this historic mission, you carry with you the heart of this Artemis team, the brave spirit of the American people and our global partners, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation. Good luck. God speed Artemis 2. Let’s go,” she said. The weather was nearly perfect, with a 90 percent chance of ideal launch conditions. The team, dressed in bright orange suits with blue accents, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen.