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Nasa's Artemis II set to launch, first crewed lunar mission in over …
NASA
NASA's Artemis II mission is well on its way, with a crewed aircraft heading to the Moon for the first time in 50 years.
While they won't be stepping off onto the Moon's surface this time, the fly by is sending them deeper into space than ever human has gone before, and is considered preparation for Artemis III, taking place in 2027 if this mission goes well.
The 322-foot rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 6.36pm local time (11.36pm BST) on 1 April, with millions tuning in to watch.
Four astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen - will spend the next 10 days on board the Orion space craft.
Ready to relive the historic moment? Here's a look back at the Artemis launch in pictures...
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Space fans camped out to get a prime view of the launch
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The astronauts, of course, arrived in a branded truck
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The four astronauts appeared upbeat as they prepared to step on board
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It was cameras out for the moment, which happened at 6.36pm local time (11.36pm BST)
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The rocket, which will travel 238,855 miles between the Earth and the Moon
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More than 700,000 gallons (2.6 million litres) of fuel was loaded into the spacecraft before launch
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After liftoff, the rocket was visible from planes
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The crew will spend the coming hours orbiting the Earth to carry out essential safety checks, before continuing their mission towards the Moon.
Why not read...
- Artemis II astronauts 'deserved better' as camera work compared to 1960s quality
- Artemis II in numbers: The key figures behind NASA moon mission from distance, to living space
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