Breathtaking close-up videos capture NASA's moon rocket launching into space.

      During its inaugural crewed launch, NASA's lunar rocket showcases remarkable strength.

      NASA's SLS rocket takes off powerfully at the start of the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026.

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

      The detailed tracking shot highlights the immense 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 ascends from the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

      @NASA has unveiled some REMARKABLE tracking footage from the Artemis II launch that occurred just a week ago. The interaction of exhaust flows among all four RS-25 engines and the twin solid rocket boosters is truly mesmerizing. pic.twitter.com/Q49oZh5RrB— Max Evans (@_MaxQ_) April 8, 2026

      The SLS generates an astounding 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, which is approximately 1.2 million pounds more than the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo missions five decades ago, and about half of that produced by SpaceX’s upcoming Starship rocket, which is anticipated to eventually travel to the moon.

      NASA’s rocket utilizes a combination of high-performance engines across its stages. Its core stage features four RS-25 liquid-fueled engines that burn liquid hydrogen and oxygen to deliver highly efficient thrust. Notably, these core stage engines were repurposed from the Space Shuttle program, which NASA concluded in 2011.

      Additionally, the vehicle incorporates two large solid rocket boosters that contribute the majority of the initial power needed to propel both the massive rocket and the crewed Orion spacecraft into space.

      The Orion spacecraft carried the crew farther from Earth than any human has ever traveled as it circled the moon earlier this week.

      In addition to gathering new information about the moon, this mission also serves as a test of the spacecraft's capabilities for crewed operations ahead of future Artemis missions aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface, potentially as soon as 2028.

      Following eight days in space, the four Artemis II astronauts have Earth clearly in their view and are gearing up for a splashdown in the ocean off the California coast on Friday, promising a memorable return.

      For more information on how to witness the concluding moments of the Artemis II mission, Digital Trends has all the details.

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      How to watch NASA’s moon crew splash down at the end of their historic mission

      The Orion spacecraft's final moments before splashdown will be the most dangerous of the entire mission. The Artemis II astronauts have orbited the moon, captured incredible imagery, set numerous records, and are currently en route back to Earth. This 10-day mission will culminate on Friday, April 10, with a dramatic return that will see the Orion spacecraft re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 25,000 miles per hour.

      Notable milestones achieved thus far in the Artemis II moon mission

      With the Artemis II crew returning home, let’s review the mission's accomplishments up to this point. After looping around the moon in a historic flyby, the Artemis II crew is now headed 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, propelled into space by the powerful SLS rocket.

      Check out this stunning Earth image as the Artemis II crew approaches a new record

      The latest breathtaking image from NASA's crewed mission illustrates a small Earth enveloped by the deep darkness of space. NASA has released a remarkable photo taken by the Artemis II crew as they move toward the moon. It depicts a tiny Earth, largely in shadow, surrounded by the void of space. This image was captured on day four of the Artemis II mission, during which four astronauts will orbit the moon before returning to Earth. The crew—NASA’s Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, along with the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen—will circle our nearest celestial neighbor on Monday, achieving a new flight record in the process.