BREAKING: Artemis II LIFTS OFF, NASA sends astronauts toward moon for first time in over 50 years

NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully lifted off Wednesday afternoon, marking a major step in renewed American efforts to expand human space exploration.

The mission will mark the first time astronauts have traveled to the vicinity of the moon since the NASA Apollo program more than five decades ago, and could surpass the distance record set during that time. The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.

Although Artemis II will not land on the moon, it is expected to play a critical role in the United States’ return to deep space, paving the way for future lunar landings and potentially a mission to Mars. The 10-day mission will see the crew travel around the far side of the moon before returning to Earth. If the mission goes according to plan, the crew will reach the moon in six days. 

Less than one hour before liftoff, engineers investigated an issue involving one of two batteries in the rocket’s abort system that was not displaying the proper temperature. Officials determined the problem was likely due to instrumentation and would not affect the launch. Engineers also identified a hardware issue related to communications with the flight termination system, which allows ground controllers to destruct the rocket if it veers off course during ascent. The issue did not ultimately prevent the launch from proceeding.

The Artemis program was established in 2017 under President Donald Trump’s first term. Ahead of the launch, the president praised the mission in a post on Truth Social.

"Tonight at 6:24 P.M. EST, for the first time in over 50 YEARS, America is going back to the Moon!" Trump wrote. "Artemis II, among the most powerful rockets ever built, is launching our Brave Astronauts farther into Deep Space than any human has EVER gone. We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between — Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close!

"America doesn’t just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching," the president added. "God bless our incredible Astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the Greatest Nation ever to exist, the United States of America!"