The first mission to return humans to the lunar neighborhood since Apollo 17 in 1972 is planning spacecraft testing, scientific research, and a glimpse of the dark side of the moon.

After adjusting its timeline for the last remaining tests of the Artemis II space launch system and Orion capsule because of freezing cold temperatures in Florida, NASA is now pressing ahead in preparation for launch.

Artemis II echoes the Apollo-era missions that paved the way for the first moon landing — and sets the stage for what comes next.

NASA has postponed the pivotal fueling test for Artemis II because of a near-freezing chill in Florida, making a February space launch far less likely. The so-called " wet dress rehearsal " will load the Space Launch System with 700,

More than 50 years after NASA's last human mission to the moon, four astronauts, three Americans and a Canadian, are set for the 10-day Artemis II mission to the far side of the moon.

The first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years is on hold as winter weather in Florida forces NASA to push back launch plans for Artemis II. The agency says near-freezing temperatures and strong winds at Kennedy Space Center prompted managers to delay a crucial fueling test — known as the wet dress rehearsal

The cold weather didn’t stop NASA from calling employees to work Saturday night to begin the two-day countdown of a test run for its Artemis II moon mission.

Extreme cold has forced NASA to reschedule its next moon mission. On Saturday, the massive Artemis II rocket stands on launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. Like Apollo 8 in 1968, it won't land on the lunar surface.