Artemis Two Blasts Off, First Crewed Moon Mission in 50 Years

0:00NASA's Artemis II mission blasted off successfully on April 1, 2026 at 6.35pm, Eastern Daylight Time from Kennedy Space Center. This marks the first crewed flight in the Artemis program and the first human trip toward the moon since 1972. The crew includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hanson, the first non-American to head there, alongside Christina Koch, the first woman, and Victor. Glover, the first person of color on such a voyage. Earlier this year, launch attempts slipped due to technical hiccups during rehearsals, but NASA skipped the final dresser on this time, rolling out the massive space launch system rocket on March 20th with newfound confidence. Around the world, folks held their breath during those tense first moments, celebrating a huge step for global space exploration. For Canada, it's a milestone, making us the second nation to send an astronaut into deep space, building on years of teamwork with NASA. Right now, the crew is chilling in high-earth orbit, up to 74,000 kilometers outweigh,

1:04beyond the International Space Station's four. Hundred kilometers, they're running checks on life support and environmental systems during this first day, prepping for the big push toward the moon. If Tesco smooth, Transluner Injection fires up soon, slinging their Orion spacecraft named Integrity on a 10-day lunar flyby. This mission tests everything for future landings, paving the way for humanity's return, and opening the moon as a shared destination for all. That's your update from Canada News Today, powered by AI.