Science

Suited up and ready to go: Watch the Artemis crew's journey to launch

From spacesuit fitting to final communications checks in the rocket, the crew prepared for liftoff to begin their 10-day mission.

Published April 1, 2026, 7:54 PM
Updated April 2, 2026, 4:26 AM2.3K
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Suited up and ready to go: Watch the Artemis crew's journey to launch

Nasa is due to send the first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years. On Wednesday, the Artemis II crew finished final preparations for the launch from Florida, set to take place in the evening.

The crew on the 10-day mission won't land on the Moon, but plan to circle it, while travelling further from Earth than anyone has ever been before. Following on from the unmanned Artemis I mission in 2022, Nasa's Artemis program is preparing for deep-space missions - with an ultimate goal of reaching Mars in the 2030s.

Follow along with the BBC's live coverage of the launch here.

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