Artemis II will take Americans back to the moon and toward Mars.

Artemis II is scheduled to launch Wednesday evening with four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule to orbit the moon and return after about 10 days.

Artemis II is scheduled to lift off Wednesday evening with a crew of four aboard the Orion capsule. The spacecraft will ride on a 322-foot Space Launch System rocket, orbit the Earth, travel to the moon, circle it and return home over roughly ten days. The flight will take humans farther from Earth than any previous mission and will return at speeds reported near 25,000 miles per hour while facing reentry temperatures around 5,000 degrees. The mission is presented as preparation for sustained lunar operations and future missions to Mars. Mission facts: - Launch scheduled Wednesday evening. - Crew of four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule. - Launched on a 322-foot Space Launch System rocket. - Mission profile: orbit Earth, travel to the moon, circle the moon, and return in about 10 days. - Reported reentry speed near 25,000 miles per hour and reentry temperatures around 5,000 degrees. - Mission aims to explore the Moon's South Pole and study lunar ice for potential use as water, air and fuel. Summary: Artemis II is the first U.S. crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years and is intended to test systems and operations needed for a longer-term lunar presence and eventual missions to Mars. The immediate next step reported is the scheduled liftoff Wednesday evening. The mission also includes scientific objectives such as studying lunar ice near the Moon's South Pole.