Nasa stacks Orion capsule atop Artemis 1 as moon mission nears

Final preparations begin for Nasa's Artemis programme to return astronauts to moon

Nasa's Orion crew capsule has been secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Final preparations are beginning for the first uncrewed launch in Nasa's Artemis programme to return astronauts to the moon.

The fully stacked rocket stands at 322ft (98 metres), about 6ft taller than Big Ben in London. The European Space Agency has provided the critical service module that gives the Orion capsule electricity, air, water, communications and propulsion.