It's launch day. Why it matters: Artemis II returns to NASA's original deep-space ambitions as the agency moves toward a sustained presence on and around the Moon. What they're saying: "I think this signals a picking up where we last left off,

Helping the astronauts of Artemis II speak to the folks on Earth is the Deep Space Network, operated out of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch Wednesday, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth. While the mission will not include a landing, it marks a major step forward in returning humans to deep space.

Nasa is gearing up for a major return to lunar exploration after five decades since the Apollo era. Follow this LIVE blog for the latest developments on the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II will test NASA’s crew capabilities in deep space and gather more information that could ultimately help send astronauts to Mars.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After weeks of fuel leaks and other issues, NASA faced a trouble-free countdown Tuesday on the eve of astronauts’ first trip to the moon in more than half a century. Officials reported the moon rocket was doing well on the pad, and the weather looked promising. Forecasters put the odds of favorable conditions at 80%.

Artemis II follows the uncrewed Artemis I mission launched in 2022, which tested the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. While Artemis I validated the hardware, Artemis II is designed to test these systems with humans on board in a deep space environment.

Forecasters reveal the chance of poor weather that could delay the planned Artemis II launch planned for Wednesday evening.