Watch the moment Artemis II launches historic mission around the moon

NASA launched four astronauts into space Wednesday evening aboard the Artemis II mission, which will conduct a 10-day flight to the moon. The mission marks NASA's first crewed lunar voyage since the Apollo program ended in 1972, representing a major milestone in the agency's effort to return humans to lunar exploration. Artemis II will test the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket in real conditions before NASA attempts a crewed lunar landing on a subsequent mission. The flight demonstrates renewed momentum in the U.S. space program's long-term goal of establishing sustainable human presence on the moon and eventually supporting missions to Mars.