Look: Artemis II launches astronauts on historic Moon flyby

As the rocket ascended into the evening sky, crowds gathered to witness the moment

Last updated: April 02, 2026 | 11:53

1 MIN READ

NASA launches historic Artemis II crewed Moon mission

Dubai: Artemis II marked a historic milestone as four astronauts blasted off on a journey around the Moon, reigniting human exploration beyond Earth orbit. Launched aboard NASA’s powerful Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center, the mission lifted off at approximately 6:35 pm local time with a thunderous roar.

The crew — three Americans and one Canadian — will orbit the Moon before returning to Earth, becoming the first humans to travel this far into space in over five decades since the Apollo era. The mission is a crucial step in NASA’s broader plan to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon.

As the rocket ascended into the evening sky, crowds gathered to witness the moment, celebrating a new chapter in space exploration and international collaboration.

Devadasan K P

Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct. Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action. Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya. His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011. He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.

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