Brendan Byrne

Once launched, this mission will take the crew of four to Earth orbit before heading on a flight path that will take them around the moon and back.

It's the first time the Orion space caps was carrying a crew and the first time humans will return to the moon in more than 50 years.

The nearly 10-day mission will end with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne at the Kennedy Space Center.

And here they are, NASA's Artemis II crew.

Commander Reed Weissman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Cook and Jeremy Hansen taking their first steps outside for their historic test flight.

Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne is there.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the clock at Kennedy Space Center has been turned on for a crewed lunar mission.

Mission managers say that all the issues with the rocket, like its leaking hydrogen and faulty helium system, are fixed.

Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson says they'll keep a close eye on the rocket and only launch when ready.

But certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape as we get into count.

Once that count hits zero, NASA's massive SLS rocket will launch the Orion space capsule and its crew of four, three U.S.

astronauts and one from Canada.

The 10-day mission will test out key systems of the Orion vehicle as it travels around the moon and back, taking the crew farther into deep space than any other mission.

For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the clock at Kennedy Space Center has been turned on for a crewed lunar mission.

Mission managers say that all the issues with the rocket, like its leaking hydrogen and faulty helium system, are fixed.

Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson says they'll keep a close eye on the rocket and only launch when ready.

But certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape as we get into count.

Once that count hits zero, NASA's massive SLS rocket will launch the Orion space capsule and its crew of four, three U.S.