Nasa returns moon rocket to pad and targets 1 April launch

After series of delays, US space agency hopes to carry out first crewed flyby of the moon in more than half a century

Nasa has begun returning its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to its Florida launch pad before a planned flyby of the moon, after completing necessary repairs.

Artemis engineers began the manoeuvre, which can take up to 12 hours, at 8pm local time. The US space agency will then begin the final preparations before its next launch window opens on 1 April.