Lift-off for first manned Moon mission in more than 50 years

The 322-foot rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida

The Nasa Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft launches at the Kennedy Space Centre, on Wednesday in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Picture: Chris O’Meara/AP.

Nasa’s first manned Moon mission in more than 50 years that will take astronauts deeper into space than any human has gone before has blasted off.

The 322-foot rocket, carrying four crew members, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 6.36pm local time (11.36pm BST).