The Artemis II crew fired Orion’s main engine for a flawless translunar injection (TLI). This five-minute, 55-second burn propelled the four astronauts out of Earth’s orbit toward the Moon’s far side. NASA’s Dr. Lori Glaze confirmed the maneuver executed perfectly.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reported the team feels great aboard Orion. The mission follows a looping path around the Moon’s far side and back—the first human venture beyond Earth orbit since 1972. Earth shrinks rapidly in livestream views as the capsule accelerates into deep space.
Hansen, the first non-American Moon traveler, praised the global team’s perseverance. “Humanity shows what we’re capable of,” he told mission control. “Your hopes carry us on this lunar journey.”
Orion spent a day in high Earth orbit testing engines, navigation, and life support. Final approval triggered the TLI, adding thousands of kilometers per hour via the service module’s engine. The trajectory aims farther from Earth than any prior human mission—potentially topping Apollo 13’s 1970 record by over 4,700 miles beyond the Moon.
Commander Reid Wiseman shared stunning views during the first crew video call. “We saw the entire globe from pole to pole,” he said. “That spectacular moment paused us all.”
