India, April 1 -- NASA has entered the final phase of preparations for the Artemis II mission, marking a major step in the United States' return to human space exploration beyond Earth's orbit. The mission signals the beginning of a new era in lunar exploration after nearly 50 years since the Apollo missions last sent astronauts to the Moon.

The Artemis programme focuses on building a long-term presence on the Moon, particularly near its south pole. Artemis II will not land astronauts on the Moon but will test the systems required for future missions that aim to achieve a lunar landing later in the decade.

NASA Artemis II Countdown

The countdown for Artemis II has officially begun at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Engineers an...