NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft has successfully lifted off, entering Earth’s orbit as the crew begins a 24‑hour systems check before receiving clearance to head toward the Moon, BBC reports.
Mission officials report the astronauts are “safe, secure and in great spirits.” After launch, Commander Reid Wiseman said, “Great view. We’ve got a great Moonrise.”
The liftoff was described as “spectacular” by our science editor, who noted the rocket’s force reverberated through the body.
The 10‑day mission will not land on the lunar surface. Instead, the crew will loop around the Moon, venturing farther from Earth than any humans before.
The Artemis II crew are putting the Orion spacecraft through its first major test in space. Using small steering thrusters, Orion drifts away from the rocket’s spent upper stage before sliding back in again — a rehearsal of what NASA calls “proximity operations”, or controlled flying near another object.
The exercise is designed to refine techniques astronauts will one day need to dock with a lunar lander and operate as part of future Artemis missions. Throughout the manoeuvre, onboard computers monitor distance and closing speed, while the crew practise taking manual control with hand controllers in case automated systems fail.
Proving this can be done safely in low Earth orbit builds confidence for future dockings around the Moon.
The astronauts remain in Earth orbit, conducting a series of tests including capsule manoeuvres. Artemis’s long‑term ambition is to establish a permanent lunar base, where crews may spend months together in harsh conditions — dust, airlessness, and nights that last two weeks. Success will demand not only technical skill but also patience, discipline, and resilience.
