Nasa's artemis ii mission sets sights on historic lunar return

NASA's ambitious Artemis II mission is poised to make history as the first crewed return to the moon in over half a century. Launching from the Kennedy Space Center tonight at 6:24 p.m. ET, the four-person team will embark on a 10-day journey to orbit the lunar surface, paving the way for long-term exploration and science on the moon.

Meet the artemis ii crew

Leading the charge are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, joined by Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen. This diverse quartet will break new ground - literally and figuratively. Koch will become the first woman to orbit the moon, while Glover will be the first Black man to make the trip.

Equipped with cutting-edge International Orange suits, adorned with reflective, sky-blue accents, the astronauts are ready for their deep-space adventure. And they won't be alone - on board is RISE, a plush baseball-cap-wearing teddy bear designed by 8-year-old contest winner Lucas Ye, who shared his passion for space with the California Post.