Lift-off! Artemis II blasts to the Moon in historic Nasa mission - The lunar flyby will pave the way for a landing in 2028 and a possible future mission to Mars

It is the most ambitious U.S. space mission in decades and a major step toward returning humans ‌to the lunar surface before China's first crewed landing. NASA mission managers on Monday polled "go" to launch the Artemis II mission's 322-foot (98 m) Space Launch System rocket topped with the astronauts' Orion crew capsule.

Four astronauts lifted off from Florida on Wednesday (April 1) on NASA’s Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed flight of the agency’s program aimed at returning humans to the Moon later this decade.

Four astronauts took off on a flight around the moon in what is humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the leadoff in NASA’s push toward a lunar landing in two years.

Stunning images capture the moment Artemis II lifts off for the first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years

Lift-off for first manned Moon mission in more than 50 years - The lunar flyby paves the way for a future landing and lays the foundation to send humans to Mars.

Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday (April 1) on NASA's Artemis II mission, a high‑stakes 10-day trip around the moon that marks the United States' boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface this decade before China's first crewed landing.

Nasa mission to the Moon launched - and today’s other top stories -