Esme Stallard
Science reporter

The crew are going through the life support system checks onboard the spacecraft.

And of course one of the crucial ones is being able to empty their bladders.

"Toilet is powered, waste tank merged" we hear the astronauts tell mission control.

But then a few minutes later they say the toilet's amber warning light is on.

Mission control say they are going to need some time to figure that one out.

Katie Williams
Live reporter

Image source, Stacey Morgan

One person watching the launch was Stacey Morgan. She is married to Nasa astronaut Andrew Morgan, who has previously spent nine months on the International Space Station.

"That was amazing!!!" she says.

"The Canadians are so excited! They are the BEST!" she adds. Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen is the first Canadian to fly to the Moon - and it's also his first time in space.

Following earlier technical issues, she says everyone was just "excited for this to happen".

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

The next critical stage of the mission has taken place - the solar array wings are open.

These four wings have 15,000 solar cells on them each. They will harness solar energy to now power the spacecraft on the remainder of its time in Earth's orbit, and on its journey to the moon.

One of the next milestones - a few hours into the flight - the crew will try to test drive Orion.

The propulsion stage will provide a couple of boosts to the spacecraft and then separate.

As the spacecraft and its crew move away, Orion will perform a backflip to face the propulsion stage.

This will help it practice for future missions when it will need to dock with other spacecraft.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, reporting from the launch

Image source, Reuters

In the hour before take-off there were issues which threatened launch concerning the Launch Abort System.

This is the system that enables Nasa engineers to eject the astronauts and blow up the rocket if there is a malfunction.

The countdown clock was held at 10 minutes while engineers resolved the problem – which they speedily did.

Then came the staccato rhythm of the calls by each engineer responsible for the rocket’s critical systems.

One by one the voices came back: “Booster, go”, “GNC, go”, “Range, go” – each reply, a tiny release of tension and a build-up of expectation.

“Artemis II, this is Launch Director – you are go for launch,” the crew was told. “We go for all humanity, Commander Reid Wiseman responded.

The four RS‑25 engines and twin solid rocket boosters lit with a sheet of flame that seemed to engulf the rocket, driving more than 8.8m lbs of thrust into the Florida evening sky.

Leyla Khodabakhshi
Reporting from the Kennedy Space Center

Image source, Getty Images

This was my first rocket launch, and it was spectacular.

From the moment I arrived here, people kept telling me you don’t just see a launch - you feel it. And they were right.

As the rocket lifted off, you could feel it through your body.

Now, the smoke is still lingering in the sky, hanging there - almost giving you a moment to take it in.

If you can ever fully take it in.

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

A few minutes into the launch as the astronauts began to enter the Earth's upper atmosphere, the spacecraft commander Reid Wiseman takes to the comms.

"Great view" he declares. "We have got a great Moonrise".

The astronauts will see views on this trip only a handful of humans in history have seen.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, reporting from the launch

There was giddy euphoria at the Kennedy Space Center. Staff are laughing and clapping - this is the moment that they have spent years working for.

There is still work to do - but for a moment they are bathing in the moment of triumph.

Rebecca Morelle
Science editor, reporting from the launch

Wow - that is just spectacular…

It’s not just what you can see and hear as the rocket lifts off. You can actually feel the force of it passing through your body.

This is the most powerful rocket that Nasa has ever built - and it needs to be, because it’s sending these four astronauts 250,000 miles (400,000 km) away to the Moon.

Image source, BBC/Kevin Church

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

Reid, Wiseman, Koch and Hansen have passed the Kármán line - the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space. They are now in orbit around the Earth.

All initial stages appear to have gone to plan.

There is still ten days to go with this mission but so far, so good.

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

Image source, Reuters

The pair of solid rocket boosters, which provide 80% of thrust, have done their job getting the system to more than 10,000 mph.

They have now separated from the rocket.

Within the next couple of minutes they are expected to splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, reporting from the launch

It's now been ten minutes since launch - here's some of the key moments to look out for for the rest of the flight:

After about eight minutes the core runs dry and drops back towards Earth, while the upper stage of the rocket - the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) - takes over, lighting its engine to nudge the crew the rest of the way into orbit.

With two engine burns, the ICPS places Orion into a high, stretched out orbit around Earth.

At its furthest, the spacecraft will be about 46,000 miles away; at its nearest, roughly 115 miles up.

That loop takes about a day. During this first day, Orion separates from the ICPS and carries out a docking practice manoeuvre, flying towards and around the spent stage as if it were a future Moon lander or small space station.

All of this is rehearsal for what comes much later in Nasa’s grand plans for a long term presence on the lunar surface, when Orion will have to hook up in space with lunar landers and an orbiting outpost near the Moon.

Artemis II is the crew’s chance to see how the capsule’s autopilot and thrusters behave when they really lean on them.

Image source, NASA

You can see the flames under the spacecraft, and hear an almighty roar as the rocket lifts off into the blue sky. A trail of smoke is left in its wake.

You can hear the crowds at the launch cheer as the spacecraft shoots into the sky.

As a reminder, you can watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, Reuters

We have lift off!

The Artemis crew are officially on their way in a historic 10-day mission around the Moon, which could take them further from Earth than anyone has ever been before.

Leyla Khodabakhshi
Reporting from the Kennedy Space Center

There was a brief buzz and loud cheers as the countdown clock started again, but things have quickly gone quiet.

The countdown clock has resumed here at the Kennedy Space Center after the hold at T-10 minutes.

People are watching the clock, waiting.

It feels like the calm before the storm as launch gets closer.

Three of the astronauts shared a pre-launch message moments before the countdown began:

"We are going for our families," said pilot Victor Glover.

"We are going for our teammates," said mission specialist Christina Koch.

"We are going for all humanity," said mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

With less than five minutes left on the countdown, the crew access arm has been retracted, meaning the Launch Abort System - where there was reportedly a battery issue earlier - will now be armed.

Image source, NASA

Rebecca Morelle
Science editor, reporting from the launch

Cheers here as the countdown resumes - the crowd at the Kennedy Space Center is ready!

"T minus 10 minutes and counting."

The launch window is now open and the final countdown begins - ten minutes to launch.

Leyla Khodabakhshi
Reporting from the Kennedy Space Center

The countdown for the Artemis launch is now on hold at T-10 minutes.

In spaceflight terms, “T” refers to the moment of launch, so this means there are 10 minutes to go before liftoff.

This is a planned pause, giving engineers and mission control time to carry out final checks on the rocket, spacecraft and weather conditions.

If everything is confirmed as “go”, the countdown will resume when the director says for the final minutes before launch.

Esme Stallard
Science reporter

Nasa says the battery issue it has identified will not stop proceedings today.

It says engineers found a "higher temperature than would be expected" on a Launch Abort System battery, but "it is believed to be an instrumentation issue and will not affect today’s launch."

Just in time.