Suited up and ready to go: Watch the Artemis crew’s journey to launch

NASA’s Crewed Moon Mission Prepares for Historic Launch

NASA is set to send its first crewed mission to the Moon in over half a century. The Artemis II team concluded their last-minute readiness checks for the evening launch from Florida. Though the 10-day journey won’t include a lunar landing, it will see them orbit the Moon and venture farther from Earth than any humans have gone before.

Building on the success of the 2022 Artemis I unmanned test, the agency is laying the groundwork for future deep-space ventures, with Mars as the long-term target by the 2030s. The BBC will provide live updates as the launch unfolds.

Incidents and Updates Across the Nation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been stationed at US airports to support TSA during the ongoing partial government shutdown. No injuries were reported following a collision between a passenger aircraft and a firefighting vehicle at New York’s airport, according to Valero, a refinery operator, who shared details with CBS.

A timelapse video captures rescuers maneuvering a vessel through blizzard conditions toward the ice edge near Mackinac Island, Michigan. Meanwhile, a Michigan resident documented snowdrifts nearly sealing their home’s entrance, as over 129,000 people face power outages in the state.

Cultural and Legal Moments

As Canada’s secularism law, Bill 21, undergoes Supreme Court review, some Muslim women argue it has imposed the heaviest burden on them. The Chicago River continues its decades-old tradition of being dyed green to commemorate Irish heritage.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw implored “all the women in the room to stand up” while accepting her Oscar for best cinematography in Sinners. Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley also claimed victories at the Oscars, with Jordan winning best actor and Buckley best actress for her role in Hamnet.

Hollywood and Beyond

The Hollywood action star, who rose to fame alongside Bruce Lee in 1972’s Way Of The Dragon, has died at age 86. Before securing his legal triumph over songs satirizing police, Afroman defended himself on the stand, calling the house raid “a mistake.”

The US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, faced questions over alleged inconsistencies between White House and intelligence community statements. A former reality TV star guided his dogs through a 1,000-mile race, completing it in nine days, seven hours, and 32 minutes.

Controversies and Reflections

A prominent civil rights leader is under scrutiny for sexual abuse allegations, prompting Los Angeles and other cities to reconsider naming places, schools, and streets after Chavez. The Kentucky senator also addressed an assault that occurred in 2017, when a neighbor attacked him in his yard.

“All the women in the room to stand up,” Autumn Durald Arkapaw said as she accepted her Oscar.