Artemis II mission launched as Nasa astronauts head for the Moon for first time in over 50 years

• The Artemis II mission, the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, has successfully launched with four astronauts aboard.
• Three American and one Canadian astronaut departed from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday.
• The 10-day voyage will see the crew orbit the far side of the Moon and return to Earth, without landing on the lunar surface.
• The mission's goal is to rigorously test the Orion spacecraft's life support, navigation, communication, and manual handling systems.
• These tests are crucial for establishing a permanent lunar settlement and preparing for the subsequent Artemis III mission, which aims for a Moon landing.

IN FULL

Artemis II launch live: Nasa astronauts successfully takeoff as they head towards the Moon