NASA says moon mission could blast off next month | World News

NASA is planning to send astronauts to the moon next month for the first time in more than half a century. 

The Artemis ⁠II mission, which aims to send four crew members to orbit around the moon and then return home, could launch as early as 6 March, it was announced on Friday.

Jared Isaacman, an administrator at the space agency, said it would be “a big step toward America’s return to the lunar environment”.

However, the planned launch, from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, could be pushed back depending on final checks.

The crew would become the first astronauts to fly to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, but there are no plans for them to land on its surface.

A first rehearsal for the launch earlier this month was disrupted after a hydrogen leak was discovered.

But a second test was completed on Thursday without any leaks identified after technicians replaced two seals.

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From earlier this month: Artemis II mission delayed

The 50-hour rehearsal involved fuelling the rocket ​with some 730,000 ​gallons of propellant.

The Artemis missions are part of NASA’s long-term plans to build a space station – called the Lunar Gateway – where astronauts would be able to live and work, and prepare for missions to Mars.