CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has begun fueling its moon rocket for humanity’s first lunar trip in more than half a century, with a liftoff targeted for the evening. The mission will carry four astronauts on a historic journey.
Initial preparations are underway as the liquid hydrogen fuel is pumped into the Artemis II vehicle hours before the scheduled launch. The team has to load over 700,000 gallons (2.6 million liters) of fuel into the vehicle before the astronauts can board the spacecraft.
“It is time to fly,” stated mission commander Reid Wiseman via X, expressing enthusiasm as favorable weather is forecasted for the launch.
The flight will consist of three American astronauts and one Canadian, marking a new milestone in the exploration of space. The mission involves flying around the moon without orbiting, journeying approximately 4,000 miles past the lunar surface before returning for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
This launch follows over 50 years since astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972 and is the first step towards NASA's plans for a permanent lunar base, targeting a landing near the lunar south pole by 2028.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted the significance of this mission, calling it a new era of exploration. Warm wishes for the crew have come from various leaders across nations, including a letter from England’s King Charles III to Jeremy Hansen, marking him as the first non-U.S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes trailblazers like Christina Koch and Victor Glover, representing significant milestones for diversity in space travel.
