Nasa’s Artemis 1 rocket blasts off to the moon

The European Space Agency (ESA) is a key partner in the programme, delivering Orion’s European Service Module, built by Airbus, as well as elements of the Moon-orbiting Lunar Gateway.

Nasa’s Artemis 1 rocket blasts off to the moon (Nasa/Bill Ingalls)

Nasa’s Artemis moon mission has successfully lifted off Earth, heralding a new era for lunar exploration which will eventually see humans return to the moon.

After a series of failed launch attempts earlier in the year, Artemis 1 took off at 6.47am (1.47am local time), with Nasa’s Space Launch System rocket, its most powerful ever, propelling the Orion spacecraft upwards from the agency’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.