Final preparations underway for first human moon mission since 1972.

NASA's Artemis II crew have entered the Orion capsule at Kennedy Space Center as final countdown proceeds for the first crewed lunar mission since 1972, with a launch window opening at 18:24 EDT.

NASA's Artemis II mission is in its final preparations at Kennedy Space Center. The four astronauts have entered the Orion capsule as the launch countdown proceeds. The mission is described as the first crewed trip to the moon since 1972 and is scheduled to begin with a launch window opening at 18:24 EDT. The flight is planned as a roughly ten-day lunar fly-around. Known details: - The article reports the crew as Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, who entered the Orion capsule ahead of launch. - The launch window opens at 18:24 EDT (23:24 BST) and extends until 01:24 BST; launch controllers will vote on go/no-go 16 minutes before the scheduled time and terminal count starts 10 minutes before liftoff. - The mission is described as a lunar fly-around that will carry the crew several thousand miles beyond the moon before returning to Earth, with an overall duration of about ten days. - The crew named their Orion spacecraft "Integrity." Ground teams loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel and earlier hydrogen leaks during testing prompted delays, the article reports. - The article notes the mission has cost about $93 billion so far and says the crew will carry smartphones and a professional camera to capture images of the lunar far side. Summary: The launch would mark NASA's first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972 and is presented as a step toward future crewed lunar landings and longer-term exploration goals. Controllers will make key decisions during the final countdown; the article says a 75-minute reset may allow another attempt within the same window if time permits, otherwise another launch day would be required.