Four astronauts are en route to the Moon after a major engine firing of NASA’s Orion capsule, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The six-minute firing accelerated the spacecraft, placing it on a “free-return” trajectory to loop around the Moon before returning to Earth. The 10-day Artemis II mission aims to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028.
During the first hours in space, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen conducted system checks, troubleshooting minor issues including communications and a toilet malfunction. The crew described their journey as breathtaking, taking photos of Earth and the Moon and sharing live interactions with US media.
Read more: NASA Launches Artemis II Mission Carrying Four Astronauts
The astronauts are wearing suits that double as survival systems to maintain oxygen and pressure in case of cabin depressurization. Each crew member will perform 30-minute daily workouts on the spacecraft’s flywheel exercise device to mitigate muscle and bone loss in microgravity.
NASA officials highlighted the mission’s historic significance, sending the first woman, first person of color, and first non-American on a lunar mission. If successful, Artemis II could set a record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth while advancing long-term lunar exploration plans.
Read more: Artemis II — Nasa’s historic Moon mission set for lift-off
The mission is also viewed as part of a broader US effort to maintain leadership in lunar exploration, amid China’s plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030. Astronauts emphasized unity, marveling at Earth from space and reflecting on humanity’s shared perspective.