The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission have left Earth’s orbit after their Orion spacecraft fired its main engine for a final push toward the Moon.
The nearly six-minute burn, called translunar injection (TLI), went smoothly, according to NASA. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the crew is “feeling pretty good” as they head toward their destination.
The spacecraft is now on a path that will take the crew around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth. This is the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled beyond Earth’s orbit.
As Orion moves deeper into space, Earth is getting smaller in the distance. Hansen said the mission shows what people can achieve by working together.
The powerful engine burn greatly increased the spacecraft’s speed, sending it farther than any humans have gone before—possibly even beyond the record set during Apollo 13.
If needed, mission controllers can still turn the spacecraft around and bring the crew home safely. NASA says the team has run many simulations to prepare for any emergency.
During the trip, the astronauts will see incredible views, including a total solar eclipse near the Moon.
