Artemis II: Everything you need to know about the historic Moon mission launch
The mission is set to launch at 6.24pm EST – 11.24pm UK time – on Wednesday
The Artemis II mission will be the first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years.
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The mission is set to launch at 6.24pm EST – 11.24pm UK time – on Wednesday.
It marks the first human journey to the Moon since the Apollo missions in 1972.
The vessel, which will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will embark on a 10-day, 600,000-mile trip around the Moon and back.
However, like all rocket launches, the launch could be postponed if weather conditions prove unfavourable.
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In Wednesday morning's briefing, forecasters said the main worry is cumulus clouds that can grow tall enough for a rocket to trigger lightning as it flies through or near to it.
However forecasts of gentle breeze will move any offending cloud out of the way during the two hour launch window, experts hope.
Wednesday offers the best weather of the week, with light showers only a small risk and an 80% chance of acceptable conditions – with Saturday the next best option.
The four astronauts set to embark on the mission - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Koch will become the first woman to fly to the Earth's only natural satellite.
Glover will become the first person of colour and black astronaut to travel into space, while Hansen will become the first Canadian - and non-American - to travel to the Moon.
The rocket stands 98m tall (322ft) and weighs approximately 2.6 million kilograms when fuelled. The system will be powered by two huge rocket boosters and four engines.
Artemis II will collect crucial flight test data on the Orion module and its capabilities, including its life support systems.
The space mission has faced multiple delays, with the launch originally targeted for November 2024.
It was then delayed until September 2025, and later to early 2026, before launches were called off in both February and March 2026.
The un-crewed Artemis I mission took place in 2022, and saw NASA's mega moon rocket - the Space Launch System - and the Orion capsule fly for the first time on a 25 day mission around the Moon.
Live broadcast coverage of the long-anticipated event will commence at 7.45am EST on NASA’s YouTube channel, offering live views and audio commentary as the final preparations get underway.
Full coverage will then transition to NASA+ from 12.50pm EST.