India, April 2 -- After more than 50 years, the United States sent four astronauts on a historic flight, Artemis II, to the Moon -- a move that marks the revival of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) human lunar exploration programme.

In NASA's words, the crewed Artemis II mission "marks a key step toward long-term return to the Moon and future missions to Mars".

Mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on board the Orion spacecraft aboard the Space Launch System rocket from Launch Pad 39B.

Before the 32-story rocket's liftoff, launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew, "Good luck, Gods...