Artemis II astronauts begun their journey to the Moon on Thursday after a successful engine burn pushed them out of Earth’s orbit.
The mission marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. Travelling farther than any humans before, the crew will test systems critical for future Moon landings and deep space exploration missions.
The mission is the first time humans have travelled towards the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Mission control in Houston confirmed a “good burn” following the operation, which took place around 25 hours after launch.
The astronauts had lifted off aboard the Space Launch System rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The four-member crew, three Americans and one Canadian, are now on a trajectory that will take them around the Moon and back to Earth over the course of a 10-day mission.
Shortly after the thruster firing, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen described the view from space, saying, “We are getting just a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth lit by the moon right now. Phenomenal.”
He added that the crew had been captivated by the sight as they departed Earth, telling mission control they were “glued to the capsule’s windows.”
Reflecting on the significance of the mission, Hansen said, “Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon.”
The successful engine burn marks the final major propulsion event for the Orion spacecraft, which will now rely largely on orbital mechanics to continue its path around the Moon and back.
Before the manoeuvre, the astronauts spent their first full day in space conducting system checks and testing onboard equipment. This included evaluating cameras and practising spacecraft steering.
The crew also encountered minor technical issues, including a toilet malfunction and problems with email communications. Both issues were later resolved, according to mission updates.
The Artemis II mission is designed to test the Orion spacecraft in deep space conditions, laying the groundwork for future lunar landings.
The spacecraft is intended to play a key role in upcoming missions, including a planned return of humans to the Moon later this decade.
During the mission, the astronauts are expected to travel approximately 252,000 miles (406,000 kilometres) from Earth, surpassing the distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.
At its closest approach, the Orion capsule will pass about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometres) beyond the Moon before looping back towards Earth without landing on the lunar surface.
The crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Hansen.
The mission also marks several historic firsts, including the participation of the first Black astronaut, the first woman, and the first non-American in a lunar mission.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of NASA’s Space Launch System, a new generation rocket designed to support long-term exploration beyond Earth orbit. The programme is central to efforts to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
The mission represents a significant step in testing systems and procedures required for future deep space exploration. If successful, it is expected to pave the way for a planned crewed Moon landing in 2028.
As the spacecraft continues its journey, the mission is being closely monitored from Earth, with scientists and engineers analysing data that could shape the future of human spaceflight.