Moon

While marveling at Artemis II's mission, NPR's film critic went down a rabbit hole about moon-themed movies. Most have nothing to do with space.

NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. Eastern Wednesday. The mission aims to send four astronauts around the moon on a roughly 10-day journey.

In deference to President Trump's anti-DEI order, the space agency has removed a promise to send the "the first woman, first person of color" to walk on the moon aboard the Artemis III mission.

The Cedar Park company's robot spent 14 days on the moon, the equivalent of one lunar day. Firefly says it's the longest commercial mission on the moon to date.

The event marks the first time a commercial company has been able to actively operate on the moon and observe a total solar eclipse.

As the moon moved through the shadow of the Earth, it was also being illuminated by light from the sun — causing the moon to appear as if dipped in a deep red hue in a stunning celestial sight.

The "blood worm moon," so named for the reddish hue of its glow and the time of year it's occurring, will be visible in every U.S. state.

Commercial company Intuitive Machines has landed its second probe on the moon, but company officials say it isn't in the correct position. The same thing happened last time.

The spacecraft will spend the next couple weeks helping NASA run science experiments on the lunar surface.

The Lunar Trailblazer orbiter's launch window opens Feb 26. It's catching a ride with Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission which is landing on the moon near the south pole. Both have instruments for looking for water.