NASA Launches First Crewed Moon Mission in over 50 Years

Four astronauts have launched toward the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, marking the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades.

The mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida using NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, in a milestone moment for the agency’s Artemis II program.

US President Donald Trump praised the launch as a major success, calling it a historic achievement just hours before liftoff.

The Artemis II mission, which is expected to last about 10 days, will carry astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a crewed flight around the Moon.

The launch follows multiple delays caused by technical issues, and officials had warned the mission could still face further postponements.

The flight represents a key step in NASA’s broader plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained presence as part of future deep space exploration efforts.