Artemis II blasts off to the moon and back

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon on Thursday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.

NASA’s launch team loaded more than 2.6 million litres of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket early on Wednesday, setting the stage for blast off in the evening at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Artemis astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on board. They’ll hurtle several thousand miles beyond the moon, hang a U-turn and then come straight back. No circling around the moon, no stopping for a moonwalk — just a quick out-and-back lasting less than 10 days. NASA promises more boot prints in the grey lunar dust, but not before a couple of practice missions.

Unlike the Apollo missions that sent astronauts to the moon from 1968 through 1972, Artemis’ debut crew includes a woman, a person of colour and a Canadian citizen.

Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space programme is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

Here are some memorable images from today’s launch:

Astronauts leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center. (Source: Associated Press)

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket sits on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center as the countdown clock continues to run. (Source: Associated Press)

Photographers set up remote cameras to capture the launch of NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center (Source: Associated Press)

Members of the Cleveland Guardians warm up as NASA’S Artemis ll rocket is seen prior to launch from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on the big screen above them prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Source: Associated Press)

Space enthusiasts set up on the A. Max Brewer Bridge to view the NASA Artemis II launch (Source: Associated Press)

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad39-B in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Source: Associated Press)

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B. (Source: Associated Press)

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B. (Source: Associated Press)

People watch the lift off of Artemis II on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario (Source: Associated Press)

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B (Source: Associated Press)

Employees of the Canadian Space Agency react during the successful launch of the Artemis II moon mission, at the Canadian Space Agency. (Source: Associated Press)

The solid rocket boosters on NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket fall away after lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B (Source: Associated Press)

Inside NASA’s Mission Control Centre in Huston, Texas. (Source: Supplied)

The Earth can be seen as the Orion capsule and service module orbit around the Earth. (Source: Supplied)