Nasa’s Artemis II mission to the Moon successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey that will take humans deeper into space than ever before. The 322-foot rocket lifted off at 6.36pm local time (11.36pm BST), marking Nasa’s first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years.
The crew—Commander Reid Wiseman and three other astronauts, including Canadian Colonel Jeremy Hansen—reached Earth orbit before heading towards the Moon. Their flight is being tracked by Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall, UK. Shortly after launch, Wiseman reported a “beautiful moonrise” as the spacecraft headed towards its destination.
The King sent a message of “heartfelt good wishes” to the astronauts, including an environmental plea. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump hailed the launch on social media, declaring American dominance in space. The mission aims to circle the Moon without landing, paving the way for a future lunar landing and a crewed mission to Mars.
Technical issues during the flight included a brief loss of communication link, resolved by resetting ground equipment, and a problem with the capsule’s toilet shutting down. Despite these, Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed the crew were “safe, secure and in great spirits”. The mission had been delayed by two months due to hydrogen fuel leaks and clogged helium lines.
The Artemis II crew will travel approximately 252,000 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,000 miles. They will pass 4,600 miles beyond the far side of the Moon, losing contact with Earth for up to 50 minutes. Nasa aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028, ahead of China’s planned 2030 landing.
