Artemis II Launches: First Crewed Moon Mission Since 1972

NASA has officially launched the historic Artemis II mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first crewed voyage to orbit the Moon since 1972. The powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket successfully propelled the Orion spacecraft and its four-person international crew into space. Over the next 10 days, the astronauts will trace a “free return” trajectory around the far side of the Moon without landing, eventually splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. By testing critical life support and communication systems in deep space, this landmark flight lays the essential groundwork for future lunar surface landings and eventual missions to Mars.