NASA is accelerating plans to send humans back to the moon, with a possible launch as early as 5 February.

The US space agency said the mission to fly four astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years would give people a "front row seat to history".

It had previously committed to the first crewed flight of its Artemis moon return programme by April next year.

But preparations are ahead of schedule, and it is now more optimistic of an earlier lift off.

Lakiesha Hawkins, one of NASA's acting deputy associate administrators, told a news conference that the 10-day mission would be a milestone in space exploration.

"We together have a front row seat to history," she said.

"We are working to accelerate preparations to potentially as early as February, but we want to

See Full Page