"The liftoff of Artemis II is a key moment for NASA. The agency has spent close to $100 billion on elements of the Artemis program over 20 years and now finds itself in competition with China to return humans to the Moon's surface."
"Perched atop the 322-foot-tall Space Launch System rocket, the four astronauts lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 pm EDT, flying the most powerful rocket ridden by humans on the first leg of a nine-day voyage around the Moon."
"This mission won't land. That will have to wait for a future flight, currently targeted for Artemis IV in 2028. NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop human-rated landers to ferry crews between Orion spacecraft and the lunar surface."
Artemis II launched at 6:35 pm EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, carrying three Americans and one Canadian. The mission uses the powerful Space Launch System rocket, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust. This mission is pivotal for NASA, which has invested nearly $100 billion in the Artemis program over 20 years. While Artemis II will not land on the Moon, future missions aim to establish human presence on the lunar surface, with Artemis IV planned for 2028.
Read at Ars Technica
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