Four US astronauts launched on NASA's Artemis II mission, a 10-day trip around the moon, marking a historic return to space.

The Artemis II mission has completed a critical engine burn pushing the Orion spacecraft on its journey to the far side of the Moon. In a livestream from space the astronauts have described the "spectacular" view of Earth.

Four astronauts blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday to begin a historic space flight, which will loop around the far side of the moon. Artemis II is NASA's first crewed lunar mission since 1972.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:53 p.m. ET

Artemis II is orbiting the earth after a successful liftoff for a 10-day trip to the Moon and back. Cristian Benavides reports from Kennedy Space Center.

Four astronauts on the Artemis II mission are on their way to journey around the moon after successfully conducting the translunar injection burn, or TLI . • What the astronauts said: “Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of,

NASA's first crewed mission in over 50 years is on its way to the moon. The Artemis II crew lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday afternoon. Cristian Benavides and Adi Guajardo report.

NASA's Artemis II Moon mission successfully launched from Florida's John F. Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday afternoon at 6:35pm ET. Why it matters: Artemis II's planned crewed lunar flyby is set to mark the closest humanity has come to the Moon since the Apollo days.