NASA launched the Artemis II mission - the first crewed voyage to the Moon in over 50 years. The SLS rocket with the Orion capsule launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida with four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

The crew is conducting a ten-day journey around the Moon. After the successful launch and initial system checks in Earth orbit, the team will perform a critical engine burn called "translunar injection" to escape Earth's gravity.

"The view is beautiful and we have a beautiful moonrise," the astronauts reported. The mission includes testing Orion's systems, performing emergency procedures, and collecting data for future missions that will land people on the lunar surface.

The return uses a free-return trajectory through the Moon's gravity to direct the capsule back toward Earth, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after approximately ten days.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that success would only be confirmed after the crew's safe return.