Breathtaking close-up footage captures NASA's lunar rocket soaring into space.

      During its inaugural crewed flight, NASA's lunar rocket showcases its incredible power.

      NASA's SLS rocket ascends into the sky at the beginning of the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026.

      As NASA’s Artemis II astronauts make their way back to Earth after their breathtaking close encounter with the moon earlier this week, the agency has released stunning footage of the rocket launch that commenced their journey on April 1.

      This close-up tracking shot captures the tremendous power of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s four core RS-25 engines and its two solid rocket boosters as the 98-meter-tall vehicle roars off the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

      @NASA has just unveiled some REMARKABLE tracking footage from the Artemis II launch that occurred just a week ago, illustrating the mesmerizing interaction of exhaust flow between all four RS-25 engines and the twin solid rocket boosters.

      The SLS generates a staggering 8.8 million pounds of thrust at launch, approximately 1.2 million pounds more than the Saturn V rocket from the Apollo era fifty years ago, and around half of that produced by SpaceX’s upcoming Starship rocket, which is anticipated to eventually travel to the moon.

      Powered by a combination of high-performance engines across its stages, NASA’s rocket has four RS-25 liquid-fueled engines on its core stage that burn liquid hydrogen and oxygen to yield highly efficient thrust. Notably, these core stage boosters are repurposed from the Space Shuttle, which NASA retired in 2011.

      Additionally, the vehicle employs two large solid rocket boosters that supply most of the initial thrust needed to launch the massive vehicle and the Orion spacecraft carrying the crew into space.

      Orion has transported the crew farther from Earth than anyone has ever ventured while looping around the moon earlier this week.

      In addition to gathering new lunar data, the mission serves to test the spacecraft for human operations ahead of future Artemis missions aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface, potentially by 2028.

      After spending eight days in space, the four Artemis II astronauts now have Earth clearly in their sights and are getting ready to splash down in the ocean off the California coast on Friday in what is expected to be a memorable return.

      For further information on how to view the final moments of the Artemis II mission, Digital Trends has all the details.

      Recently, Trevor transitioned from one tea-loving island nation driving on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)...

      How to watch NASA’s lunar crew's splashdown at the conclusion of their historic mission.

      The Orion spacecraft's final moments before splashdown will be the most perilous of the entire mission.

      The Artemis II astronauts have encircled the moon, captured remarkable imagery, set several records, and are currently returning to Earth. The 10-day mission will culminate on Friday, April 10, with a dramatic homecoming as the Orion spacecraft re-enters Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 25,000 miles per hour.

      Notable achievements of the Artemis II moon mission so far.

      Now on their way home, let's review the mission's accomplishments thus far.

      After completing a historic loop around the moon, the Artemis II crew is en route back to Earth. NASA’s Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, launched aboard the Orion spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, lifted into space by the powerful SLS rocket.

      Check out this breathtaking Earth shot as the Artemis II crew approaches a new record.

      The latest stunning image from NASA's crewed mission depicts a small Earth surrounded by the vast darkness of space. NASA has released an incredible photo taken by the Artemis II crew as they progress toward the moon. The image showcases a tiny Earth, mostly shrouded in darkness, set against the blackness of outer space. The photo was captured on day four of the Artemis II mission, during which four astronauts will fly around the moon before heading back to Earth. On Monday, the crew — NASA’s Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency — will circle our nearest neighbor, achieving a new flight record in the process.