WATCH: Artemis II crew lifts off for the moon

NASA's Artemis II mission launched four astronauts toward the moon on Tuesday evening from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years. The spacecraft lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET, carrying the crew on a trajectory around the moon rather than a landing, serving as a test run for NASA's deeper exploration goals. This mission represents a critical step in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually establish a sustained presence there. The flight validates the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule systems ahead of future missions. Artemis II's success or failure will directly inform NASA's timeline for landing the next crew on the moon's surface.