A NASA crew of four astronauts are preparing for a critical stage of their journey that will set them on course for the moon, a step that will ultimately bring them closer to the lunar surface than anyone has been in more than 50 years.

The Artemis II mission is the first time humans have headed to the moon since 1972. That year also marked the debut of The Godfather and the Egg McMuffin.

After a spectacular launch the astronauts are preparing for a high-stakes engine burn out of Earth's orbit.

Like the US, China is seeking allies to boost its lunar ambitions. Russia, South Africa, Pakistan, Egypt, Serbia, Belarus and Azerbaijan are among the countries that have backed its plan for an international lunar research station. China also has said it wants to launch crewed missions to Mars and build a permanently inhabited base there.

The United States has been vocal about wanting to beat China back to the surface of the Moon. In February, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said that the agency faced “credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary” and needed to “move faster, eliminate delays and achieve our objectives”.

NASA's Artemis 2 has launched on a history-making journey around the moon and back, and the moment was captured from space.

Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch's mission is partly intended to pave the way for a future lunar landing in the coming years.