The countdown for the Artemis 2 mission has begun. NASA is set to send 4 astronauts to the Moon.

NASA has announced that the countdown for the launch of the Artemis 2 mission has begun, thus preparing for a historic crewed flight around the Moon, scheduled for Wednesday. The launch program director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, stated that the SLS rocket is ready, and the crew consisting of three American astronauts and one Canadian is prepared for the mission. This will mark the first time in 53 years that humans will approach the Moon, aiming to verify systems for future missions on the lunar surface and, subsequently, on Mars.

The 98-meter tall rocket will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center, and meteorologists estimate an 80% chance of favorable conditions for launch. The Artemis 2 mission will also be a historic moment, being the first to include a woman, a person of color, and a non-American in the crew. It will last approximately 10 days and will verify preparations for the construction of a lunar base.