In the early hours of April 2, NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission, marking a significant step in lunar exploration. This mission will see four astronauts orbit the Moon and return to Earth, a historic first.
The launch took place at Cape Canaveral, with the Orion spacecraft lifting off at 01:24 Kyiv time (18:24 local time). Over the next eight days, the crew will complete their lunar orbit before landing in the Pacific Ocean.
Preparations for the mission were conducted at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis II is expected to pave the way for future lunar landings and the establishment of a base on the Moon.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the launch, emphasizing the significance of America’s return to the Moon after more than 50 years. He remarked on social media, “Today at 18:24 Eastern Time, America returns to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years! Artemis II, one of the most powerful rockets ever built, is sending our brave astronauts deeper into space than any human has ever flown. We are winning, in space, on land, and everywhere in between – economically, militarily, and now among the stars. No one can come close to us!”
Trump further expressed his belief that the United States not only competes in space but leads, with the world watching. He concluded with a blessing for the astronauts and NASA, stating, “God bless our incredible Astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the greatest nation that ever existed – the USA!”
The Artemis II mission follows the legacy of the Apollo missions, which first brought humans to the lunar surface over half a century ago.
NASA's Artemis II mission, launched on April 2, aims to send astronauts around the Moon and back, marking a historic return to lunar exploration. This mission sets the stage for future lunar landings and potential bases on the Moon.