Artemis II, Nasa’s first crewed lunar rocket in more than half a century, prepares for launch – watch and follow live

Follow latest updates, including how to watch the launch, as four astronauts prepare to set off on a 10-day, 685,000-mile journey with millions watching

The first photos of the Artemis II crew on launch day are appearing on the news wires now. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Nasa astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch were posing for pictures with their families before they’re expected to set off on a 10-day journey around the moon.

They were seen smiling and waving to the crowd ahead of the launch later expected later today: