NASA has begun the countdown for humanity’s first crewed mission to the Moon in more than five decades, with liftoff targeted for Wednesday evening, reports AP.
The 32-storey Space Launch System rocket will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. After spending about a day in Earth’s orbit, the spacecraft will travel toward the Moon, conduct a flyby, and return without landing. The mission is expected to last around 10 days, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
“Our team has worked extremely hard to get us to this moment,” said launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, noting that all systems are currently in excellent condition.
Officials said the rocket is performing well following recent repairs, while weather forecasts point to favorable launch conditions.
The Artemis II mission was originally scheduled for February but was delayed due to hydrogen fuel leaks. Although those issues were resolved, a clogged helium pressurization line forced the rocket back to the hangar last month. It returned to the launch pad about a week and a half ago, and the joint US-Canadian crew arrived on site on Friday.
Unlike the Apollo missions conducted between 1968 and 1972, which included only male astronauts, Artemis II features a more diverse crew, including a woman, a person of color, and a non-US astronaut.
Mission pilot Victor Glover said he hopes the mission will inspire young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—to see themselves reflected in space exploration. He added that he looks forward to a time when such “firsts” are no longer remarkable, as space travel becomes a shared human endeavor.
NASA has a launch window through the first six days of April. If needed, further attempts will be scheduled later in the month.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
