Four astronauts launched aboard a massive NASA rocket on Wednesday, embarking on a long-awaited journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.

With a thunderous roar that echoed far beyond the launchpad, the colossal orange-and-white rocket lifted three Americans and one Canadian from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 PM local time (2:35 AM GST).

NASA teams and spectators were thrilled as the spacecraft ascended into a brilliant sky, surrounded by flames. The crew, dressed in bright orange suits with blue trim, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen. "We have a beautiful moonrise. We're headed right at it," stated Wiseman, the mission commander.

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Liftoff. The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35 PM ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap—astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc

— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump commended "our brave astronauts," calling the successful launch "quite something" during his televised address regarding the war against Iran.

The astronauts are currently in orbit around Earth, where they will conduct various checks to ensure the reliability and safety of a spacecraft that has never carried humans before.

They have successfully completed "proximity operations" demonstrations, testing how their Orion capsule can maneuver relative to another spacecraft and carrying out maneuvers required for docking with a lunar lander.

"Great flying with you, Houston. Nice vehicle," remarked pilot Glover.

Early on, teams identified several issues to address, including "a controller issue with the toilet when they spun it up," noted Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, during a post-launch briefing.

"We're just getting started," he added.

NASA head Jared Isaacman also mentioned a temporary communication issue with the spacecraft, which has since been resolved.

The astronauts are "safe, they're secure, and they're in great spirits," said Isaacman, while also highlighting the historic significance of Wednesday's launch: "NASA is back in the business of sending people to the Moon."

'Big Step for Humanity'

If all goes well, the Artemis II team is expected to head out Thursday on its three-day journey towards the Moon, which they will loop around to capture new images and make visual observations.

The voyage is projected to last approximately 10 days in total, aiming to set the stage for a Moon landing in 2028.

Scientist Sian Proctor traveled to Florida's Space Coast to witness the moment, joining approximately 400,000 people who local authorities reported gathered to watch.

"I'm just so happy that we're going back to the Moon," Proctor expressed.

"Everyone should be excited and follow the next 10 days, because this is a significant step for humanity."

The mission signifies a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman, and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If everything proceeds as planned, the astronauts will set a record by traveling farther from Earth than any humans have before.

This mission also marks the inaugural crewed flight of NASA's new lunar rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS).

SLS is designed to facilitate the United States' repeated return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will serve as a platform for further exploration.

Originally, the launch was scheduled for as early as February after years of delays and significant cost overruns.

However, repeated setbacks delayed it and even required rolling the rocket back to its hangar for inspections and repairs.

"NASA really needs this win right now," stated Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, citing recent budget challenges and a workforce exodus that have impacted morale.

'Competition'

The current era of American lunar investment is often framed as a competition with China, which aims to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

During the post-launch briefing, Isaacman remarked that competition is "a great way to mobilize the resources of a nation."

"Competition can be a good thing," he stated. "And we certainly have competition now."

The Artemis program has faced pressure from Trump, who has pushed for a quicker pace, hoping that boots will touch the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

However, the anticipated date of 2028 for a landing has raised concerns among experts, partly because Washington is relying on advancements from the private sector.

Earlier in the day, Trump declared on Truth Social that the U.S. is "WINNING."

"Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete; we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching," he posted.

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