Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission are now speeding toward the moon after their spacecraft successfully broke free from Earth’s orbit on Thursday.
The crew accomplished a critical engine firing that propelled their Orion capsule onto a lunar trajectory, marking a major milestone in the mission. The maneuver sets up the spacecraft for a flyby around the moon before the astronauts return home.
NASA released stunning images showing Earth from the perspective of the Orion spacecraft as it travels through space on this historic journey. The successful engine burn represents the final major propulsion event needed to send the crew toward their lunar destination.
This mission marks humanity’s return to lunar exploration with astronauts for the first time in decades, as the Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable presence on and around the moon.
