NASA announces first crewed mission to the Moon in 50 years

NASA has announced plans to send astronauts on a trip around the Moon in just months - with hopes for them to land there as early as 2027.

It would be the first time in 50 years that any country has flown a crewed lunar mission and could serve as a stepping stone for humanity's first ever journey to Mars. Announcing their plans, the USspace agency said on X: "Experts are discussing the latest on the Artemis II mission. Artemis II, which will send four astronauts around the Moon next year, will prepare us for crewed missions to the lunar surface and future Martian missions."

NASAhad previously aimed for a launch by the end of April, but now hopes to bring the mission forward. The ten-day journey will see astronauts test the spaceship and systems they'll need for future Moon landings. It will be the second launch of the Artemis programme, which aims to not only land astronauts, but eventually establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.

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Lakiesha Hawkins, one of Nasa's acting deputy associate administrators, described the mission as being key in the human exploration of space. "We together have a front row seat to history," she said during a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

"The launch window could open as early as the fifth of February, but we want to emphasize that safety is our top priority."

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