Artemis II crew share first words from space

The team completes a critical engine burn that will propel the spacecraft to the far side of the Moon.

‘I’d introduce aliens to shito sauce.’ Items our panel would take into space

Artemis II’s astronauts packed their wedding rings, notebooks and a supply of maple syrup. Here’s what our writers would fly to the moon Continue reading...

By Maggie Aderin, Sheila Hancock, Michael Akadiri, Michael Rosen, Athena Kugblenu and Nels Abbey

Artemis II Day 2: Crew begins journey to the Moon after key engine burn

Artemis II: Nasa spacecraft fires engines to leave Earth’s orbit in first manned moon mission in five decades

Nasa’s first manned Moon mission in more than five decades fired its rockets early on Friday to break out of Earth’s orbit.

'It feels great up here': Artemis astronauts blast towards Moon

The astronauts are now on a “free-return” trajectory, which uses the Moon’s gravity to slingshot around it before heading back towards Earth without propulsion.