In a momentous leap for space exploration, Artemis II has taken off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, ushering in a new era of lunar missions. This journey, which marks the first manned mission to the moon since 1972, is set to last ten days, with four astronauts on board.

Despite initial challenges with systems glitches that could have jeopardized the mission, the NASA spacecraft successfully launched at 6:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The crew is comprised of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who are all set to embark on an unprecedented journey.

Artemis II aims to break new ground by taking its crew farther into space than any human has ventured before. Their trajectory will take them approximately 250,000 miles from Earth, eclipsing the distance reached by Apollo 13 in 1970. The mission’s success will be a significant milestone in human space travel.

Just four minutes into their historic voyage, the spacecraft smoothly crossed into the boundary of space, signaling a flawless start to the mission. The crew enjoys a clear path to their lunar destination, promising an exciting chapter in space exploration history.

Four minutes into the historic journey, Artemis II crossed the boundary into space with no issues with the flight reported and a clear view of their target destination.

Wiseman, the mission commander, said: ‘We have a beautiful moonrise. We’re headed right at it!’

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman reported after the successful launch that Artemis II suffered a temporary communications problem and was still dealing with a ‘controller issue’ with the toilet on board the Orion capsule.

However, all major systems were still functioning and the crew was busy preparing for the next stages of their orbital burn over Earth before the space agency declares the spacecraft ready for its trip to the moon.

Artemis II successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday evening

From left to right: Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch

Just after 6pm, Wiseman declared ‘Full send,’ as he and his crewmates sat atop NASA’s towering rocket, confirming they were ready for launch.

From mission control, Artemis II launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson delivered an emotional message to the crew, telling them they carried ‘the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of this generation.’

‘Good luck. Godspeed, Artemis II. Let’s go,’ she said, following the final launch checks.

Artemis II lifted off into orbit using the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, with the Orion spacecraft sitting on top.

The twin solid rocket boosters ignited first, delivering more than 75 percent of the thrust needed to lift the 5.75-million-pound rocket off the pad, according to NASA.

Their combined power, along with the four RS-25 engines already at full thrust, generated an incredible 8.8 million pounds of force at liftoff.

As the rocket rose, the umbilicals – which provided power, fuel and data connections during prelaunch – disconnected and retracted into protective housings. This ensured the vehicle was free from ground systems and fully autonomous for flight.

The main engine cutoff of the SLS core stage completed and separated from the craft eight minutes into the flight, marking the end of the first major propulsion phase of the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II overcame a pair of minor technical gliches to launch on time and 6.35pm ET

From there, the space capsule began to deploy its set of four solar wings approximately 20 minutes into the historic flight.

The four solar panels will provide continuous electrical power to the spacecraft throughout its ten-day journey, supporting the crew’s life‑support systems, avionics, communications and onboard operations.

NASA officials noted that the four astronauts would be spending most of the night performing systems checks to make sure the launch went off as planned and there were no critical issues before the spacecraft moves into high-Earth orbit.

On day two, and if all systems are go to leave Earth orbit, the Orion spacecraft will perform the critical translunar injection burn, a powerful engine firing designed to send the spacecraft out of orbit and on course toward the moon.

It will take three to four days for the Artemis II crew to reach the moon, with the Orion spacecraft projected to enter what NASA calls the moon’s sphere of influence on day five.

This is the point at which lunar gravity overtakes Earth’s pull and begins guiding the spacecraft toward its destination.

Day six is likely to be historic for NASA and the rest of humanity, as Artemis II conducts its lunar flyby and travels to the dark side of the moon.

The spacecraft will not only reach a point farther from Earth than any previous crewed mission, but NASA confirmed that the astronauts will be able to see a lunar eclipse – when the moon blocks out the sun.

Artemis II will be the first manned mission to reach the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972

Crowds gathered near the Florida space center to watch the rocket launch in person on April 1

After looping around the moon, the Orion craft will begin its return journey, leaving the moon’s gravitational influence and heading back toward Earth.

It will take another four days to return, which the astronauts will fill by conducting key safety demonstrations, including testing procedures designed to shield the crew from dangerous solar radiation from solar flares. The crew will also practice manually steering the spacecraft.

The mission will conclude on day ten with a fiery return through Earth’s atmosphere, where the Orion capsule is expected to endure temperatures nearing 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Parachutes will deploy to slow the spacecraft before it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the landmark mission to an end.

However, Isaacman said shortly after launch that Wednesday’s history-making event was only the first step in NASA’s much larger goals, including building a permanent base on the moon just two years from now.

‘Artemis II is the opening act. This is the test mission,’ Isaacman said.

‘It’s gonna set up for the subsequent missions. You’re gonna see a moon rocket launch in 2027, when we do our testing with the lander. We’re gonna go for the landing on Artemis IV in 2028, and in parallel, we’re gonna build the moon base!’

Artemis III, NASA’s next space mission, is set to launch in 2027.

The mission to low Earth orbit will test integrated operations between the Orion spacecraft and one or both commercial landers from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, respectively.

Artemis II entered space just four minutes into its historic journey to the moon as crowds of fans watched across Florida

Countless Americans around the US also stopped in busy cities to view the launch on TV

President Donald Trump congratulated NASA and the astronauts aboard Artemis II as he began his presidential address Wednesday night.

‘Let me begin by congratulating the team at NASA and our brave astronauts on the successful launch of Artemis II,’ he said.

‘It was quite something,’ he added, deeming the mission ‘amazing.’

‘They are on the way and God bless them. These are brave people. God bless these four astronauts.’

Trump was among the countless Americans who gathered to watch the historic launch, many stopping in crowded streets to watch Artemis II lift off on TV monitors throughout the country.

Artemis II will travel approximately 250,000 miles from Earth, the farthest any human has ever gone in history

Major sporting events, including the game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles televised the Artemis II launch for fans

William Shatner, known for playing TV space pioneer Captain Kirk, praised the NASA launch and the inclusion of a Canadian astronaut on the four-member crew

Members of the Canadian Space Agency also cheered as they watched the Artemis II launch.

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to go to the moon. It was also the 50-year-old from Ontario’s first time going to space.

Fellow Canadian, TV icon and former Blue Origin astronaut William Shatner even praised the launch during an interview with CNN.

The 95-year-old actor, famed for playing Captain Kirk on Star Trek, said: ‘We’re very proud of what Canadians have contributed to this, exploration of space exploration, of mankind’s reach.’

‘The possibility of going to Mars and discovering more about the mystery of the universe, all that so many nations have contributed and led by America and its unquestionable excellence in technological advancement.’

A small aircraft crash that involved two homes in Phoenix last month, injuring three individuals, was likely caused by engine failure shortly after takeoff, according to federal investigators.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report indicating that the Piper PA-28-140 experienced a significant loss in engine power soon after leaving Deer Valley Airport on March 4. This prompted the instructor to try an emergency landing.

The aircraft, which was being flown by a student pilot under the guidance of a flight instructor, managed to climb to approximately 1,700 feet before attempting to return to the airport. However, the plane did not make it back.

According to the report, the engine’s RPM dropped to between 600 and 700, accompanied by vibrations, before momentarily stabilizing. Despite the pilot’s attempts to regain power, the engine’s performance continued to decline and failed completely just 5 to 10 seconds before the crash.

On board were the student pilot and the instructor, who both sustained injuries when the plane crashed into a residential area in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 4. They were subsequently transported to a hospital for medical attention.

Investigators reviewed home surveillance footage from the neighborhood that shows the small plane flying low over houses before it entered a shallow right turn, dropping its right wing. The wing struck the roof of a home before slamming into an exterior wall of a second home next door. The plane came to rest in the backyard of the second home.

A man inside a home was taken to a hospital for injuries after the crash.  (FOX10 Phoenix KSAZ)

Aerial footage of the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the roof, including the plane’s right wing still lodged in the roof, while the fuselage sat crumpled in the backyard.

Hazmat crews responded to the scene after fuel leaked from the crashed plane. (FOX10 Phoenix KSAZ)

The crash shocked residents, one of whom described the impact to FOX10 Phoenix as sounding like “a bomb went off.”

The NTSB said weather conditions were clear at the time, ruling out environmental factors and pointing attention toward mechanical issues as a key focus of the investigation.

Investigators are now examining the engine and wreckage, which has been recovered to a secure facility, to determine what caused the loss of power.

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A Texas judge has found himself at the center of controversy after a video capturing his heated confrontation with an IT worker went viral. Harris County Civil Court Judge Nathan Milliron was seen in the footage demanding respect for his position as a “duly elected judge” and insisting that his “subordinate” fulfill their responsibilities.

Newly uncovered emails highlight Judge Milliron’s frustrations, showcasing tense interactions with District Clerk Marilyn Burgess. According to documents obtained by Click 2 Houston, Milliron expressed his dissatisfaction with what he termed the “ineptitude” of the clerk’s office.

In a particularly fiery email from May 2025, Milliron declared, “My court will no longer be stagnant because of DCO’s ineptitude.” The judge’s frustration was palpable as he emphasized, “THIS IS NO LONGER AN ASK. GET ME A CLERK THAT RESPONDS TO ME and does the job!”

Milliron further insisted on the respect due to his position, stating to Burgess that, as a “duly elected judge,” he should receive the same regard as any other judge within the courthouse.

Milliron then demanded that he receive the “same respect as any other judge in the courthouse,” noting to Burgess that he is a “duly elected judge.”

“I’m not presently getting it. Fix this by Monday,” he ordered.

In another August 2025 email obtained by the outlet, Milliron called out a district clerk’s office employee and another official identified only as Lisa — flatly labeling her his “subordinate.”

“Lisa — you got an e-mail today… right? Own it. I’m the District Judge and your (sic) are absolutely a subordinate. You have someone that wants to be in 215th … you can’t stomach it… right? I will,” he wrote.

He then told Lisa that Burgess “doesn’t need to like it,” insisting the employee needs to do their job.

Milliron demanded that another employee be immediately assigned to him, closing out the tense email with “THAT IS AN ORDER!”

The emails surfaced amid mounting backlash over explosive courtroom exchanges in two viral videos in which he was seen berating an IT worker and threatening to cuff a defense attorney.

Beyond his courtroom conduct and combative emails, Milliron is now facing scrutiny over his compliance with state ethics laws, according to Click 2 Houston.

Texas Ethics Commission records obtained by the outlet show Milliron is delinquent on two required filings — a campaign finance report and a personal financial disclosure report.

Records show Milliron is facing a $1,000 civil penalty for missed campaign finance filings and a $500 fine for failing to submit required personal financial disclosures.

Milliron’s courtroom conduct has also prompted attorneys to speak out against his behavior.

Attorney James Stafford was ordered by Milliron to appear in his courtroom next week after emailing the judge and urging him to apologize for how he treated the IT worker.

“I’ve never seen a judge act this way,” Stafford told Click 2 Houston. “His conduct was way out of hand.”

In a recent development from Lower Manhattan, the state trial of Luigi Mangione has been rescheduled from June to September, just hours after his federal trial was deferred from September to October.

Judge Gregory Carro, overseeing the state proceedings, did not specify the rationale behind shifting the trial date to September 8, though it was in line with the defense’s requests.

Earlier that same day, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett announced during a hearing that the federal trial, originally scheduled for September, will now commence with jury selection on October 5, followed by the presentation of evidence starting October 26.

Judge Garnett remarked, “Whether we like it or not, we are somewhat at the mercy of events in the state case,” pointing out that Mangione’s state trial was initially set for June 8.

She further explained, “What is happening at 100 Centre (the state courthouse) inevitably affects how we structure things here so the defendant can get a fair trial.”

Garnett said she did not want to be “held hostage” by the state prosecution, but she said she had “some pause” about the “utility” of having potential jurors fill out questionnaires in the glare of the state trial.

“There’s really no way around taking into account the events in the state case involving the same defendant,” Garnett said.

It is unclear whether Carro’s decision to delay the state case will necessitate another move in the federal case.

Mangione pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges after he was arrested for allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan in December 2024.

Mangione, 27, faces the possibility of life in prison if he’s convicted in either case. Garnett previously threw out the federal charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty and Carro previously tossed out an enhancement to the state murder charges that said Mangione’s alleged conduct amounted to terrorism.