The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission have now left Earth's orbit after their Orion spacecraft fired its main engine for a final push towards the Moon. The five minute and 55 second engine burn, known as the translunar injection (TLI), went 'flawlessly', NASA's Dr. Lori Glaze confirmed. From the Orion capsule, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen remarked, 'We're feeling pretty good up here on our way to the Moon.'
Artemis II is now following a looping path that will carry the crew around the far side of the Moon and back, marking the first time humans have traveled outside of Earth's orbit since 1972. During a livestream from Orion, the Earth appeared as a shrinking blue marble, while Hansen underlined the mission’s importance, stating, 'Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of.'
After roughly a day spent in a stretched-out 'high Earth orbit' for systems checks, the crew received final approval to commence the TLI, which propelled the spacecraft on a journey expected to carry them further than anyone has gone from Earth before - potentially over 4,700 miles (7,600 km) beyond the Moon. NASA estimates this mission could break the previous distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
Despite the excitement surrounding this mission, NASA clarified that the TLI does not mark a point of no return, with controllers retaining the capability to safely bring the crew back to Earth if needed. Orion’s journey promises an array of breathtaking sights, including a total solar eclipse expected around the sixth day, as they cruise beyond the Moon.
With optimism for the future, Hansen stated, 'It's your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the Moon.' \
Artemis II is now following a looping path that will carry the crew around the far side of the Moon and back, marking the first time humans have traveled outside of Earth's orbit since 1972. During a livestream from Orion, the Earth appeared as a shrinking blue marble, while Hansen underlined the mission’s importance, stating, 'Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of.'
After roughly a day spent in a stretched-out 'high Earth orbit' for systems checks, the crew received final approval to commence the TLI, which propelled the spacecraft on a journey expected to carry them further than anyone has gone from Earth before - potentially over 4,700 miles (7,600 km) beyond the Moon. NASA estimates this mission could break the previous distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
Despite the excitement surrounding this mission, NASA clarified that the TLI does not mark a point of no return, with controllers retaining the capability to safely bring the crew back to Earth if needed. Orion’s journey promises an array of breathtaking sights, including a total solar eclipse expected around the sixth day, as they cruise beyond the Moon.
With optimism for the future, Hansen stated, 'It's your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the Moon.' \
