NASA's Artemis II Enters Moon Orbit
April 2, 2026 at 00:04
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✦ AI Summary
- Four astronauts embarked on a nine-day lunar mission
- The Space Launch System is NASA's most powerful rocket yet
- Mission marks a new era in human space exploration
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.—A historic launch took place on Wednesday as three Americans and one Canadian began their journey around the Moon. The astronauts soared into orbit aboard NASA's Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever to carry humans.
With a height of 322 feet (98 meters), the rocket blasted off from Launch Complex 39B at 6:35 PM EDT (22:35 UTC), powered by four hydrogen-fueled RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters, generating an impressive 8.8 million pounds of thrust. This performance surpasses that of NASA's legendary Saturn V rocket from the Apollo program.
The Artemis II mission is a significant leap toward future lunar exploration and Mars missions.
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