The lift off was successful after several delays, including hydrogen fuel leaks, system issues and two hurricanes, pushed back the missions, CBS News reported.
Originally, the Artemis mission was supposed to launch in 2017.
The project also went over budget by billions of dollars, The Associated Press reported.
The rocket fired at 1:47 a.m. with about 15,000 people watching at the site and in less than two hours, its planned escape from the Earth’s orbit happened to send the Orion capsule to the moon, CBS News reported.
The launch was delayed for about 43 minutes after a leak was found in a hydrogen valve and because of an issue that interrupted radar tracking data, according to CBS News.
The rocket will be in space for the next three weeks with test dummies taking the place of astronauts. The crew capsule will fly in a wide orbit around the moon by Monday before it splashes down in the Pacific in December, the AP reported.
The program was named Artemis after Apollo’s twin sister from mythology, appropriate since this is the first time NASA has attempted to return to the moon since the end of the Apollo missions in 1975.
NASA said the reason it is going back to the moon is “for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. While maintaining American leadership in exploration, we will build a global alliance and explore deep space for the benefit of all.”
Artemis II is targeted to send four astronauts to circle the moon in 2024 and plans to land there in 2025 during the Artemis III mission, with extended plans of building a base on the moon in the late 2030s or early 2040s.
The current mission will last 25 days, which is what NASA expects will be the durationwhen astronauts are on board.
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Artemis I launch CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Ground fog covers the Kennedy Space Center Press Site as a photographer lines up his shot toward the Artemis 1 moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft poised on Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022, as the countdown for the third launch attempt continues at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA's Artemis 1 mission is the first test of the agency's deep space exploration systems sending the unmanned Orion spacecraft to orbit the moon several times and return back to earth. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 15: The Artemis 1 moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft poised on Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022 as the countdown for the third launch attempt continues at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA's Artemis 1 mission is the first test of the agency's deep space exploration systems sending the unmanned Orion spacecraft to orbit the moon several times and return back to earth. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
Artemis I Prelaunch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 15: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), support crew for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard check to make sure all connections and valves remain tight at Launch Pad 39B in preparation for launch November 15, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA's Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency's deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Launch of the uncrewed flight is targeted for no earlier than November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 15: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft attached sits on launch pad 39B as final preparations are made for the Artemis I mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 15, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA is making its third attempt to launch the unmanned Artemis I mission to the moon following a series of technical and weather delays. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 15: Excess gas is burned off next to NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft attached as it rests on launch pad 39B as final preparations are made for the Artemis I mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 15, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA is making its third attempt to launch the unmanned Artemis I mission to the moon following a series of technical and weather delays. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images)
Artemis I Prelaunch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 15: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests at the Banana Creek viewing site are seen as they await the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard at Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA's Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency's deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Launch of the uncrewed flight is targeted for no earlier than November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST. (Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests at the Banana Creek viewing site watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
