Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen head toward Launch Pad 39B carrying personal iPhones into deep space, marking a first for NASA 

NASA allows crew to document their journey with personal smartphones on aeroplane mode, with Administrator Jared Isaacman saying, “We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments” during the historic lunar flyby. Pic/X

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39B, marking the start of the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. PIC/X

The Orion spacecraft begins its journey, carrying astronauts on a landmark mission reminiscent of the Apollo era

Crowds gather at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as anticipation builds after the historic launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission

Artemis II lays the foundation for long-term lunar presence, with NASA stating, "Artemis II is the start of something bigger than any one mission. It marks our return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to eventually stay on our Moon Base, and lays the foundation for the next giant leaps ahead"

Orion deploys its solar array wings, enabling it to draw energy from the Sun as mission teams transition from launch to flight operations

The spacecraft successfully separates from the rocket’s upper stage, a crucial step that allows Orion to operate independently in space.