Brendan Byrne

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.

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.

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.

NASA was working with a three-step process to land humans on the moon.

An uncrewed mission around the moon, followed by one with a crew doing a lunar flyby.