Astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft spent the first hours after launch observing Earth and recording scenes from space, even as the mission successfully performed a critical engine burn to push toward the moon.Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen described the view from orbit, saying, “We’re seeing a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth illuminated by the moon.” Crews were “glued to the windows” taking photos, prioritizing the scenery over daily activities like eating.Commander Reed Wiseman later contacted the ground control center to ask how to clean the spacecraft’s windows, which were dirty due to continuous shooting. The ground team advised the crew to use water and dry wipes. NASA confirmed that images captured during the mission will be shared publicly once they are transmitted back to Earth.
Artemis 2 completes key burning, spacecraft exits Earth orbit
The mission marks an important milestone since Orion completed its translunar injection burn, an action that propelled the spacecraft from Earth orbit to the moon.The burn began at 19:49 EDT (23:49 GMT) and lasted less than six minutes. NASA called the operation “flawless,” confirming that the crew and spacecraft systems were operating as expected.“Humanity has once again demonstrated what we are capable of,” Hansen said after the exercise, his first speech since his burns.The spacecraft initiates the burn at its lowest orbital point relative to Earth, a planned orbit designed to maximize efficiency and accuracy.
NASA says crew and systems are operating as planned
NASA officials said the Artemis 2 mission is proceeding as planned and all major systems are operating within expected parameters.At a post-burn briefing, Artemis science chief Lori Glaze said the spacecraft remained “on the path we designed” and confirmed the astronauts were “doing a great job.”Flight data collected to date include ascent performance, manual flight tests during close quarters operations and inspections of life support systems such as carbon dioxide scrubbers, all of which have been successfully operated.Ascent flight director Judd Freeling said the Space Launch System accurately delivered Orion into its intended orbit and the subsequent burn went as planned.Orion program manager Howard Hu likened the mission phase to “test driving a car” and noted that goals related to manual controls and system validation were achieved.
The mission is still in the test flight phase and a moon landing has not yet been planned.
NASA reiterated that Artemis 2 is a test mission designed to evaluate how the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and crewed spacecraft operate together in deep space conditions.The mission will not include a moon landing. Instead, the Orion capsule will orbit the moon and back, allowing engineers to collect data critical to future manned lunar landings.Officials said the focus in the coming days will be on extracting as much data as possible from the flight, focusing on system performance and crew operations.While some hiccups are expected during testing, NASA says the mission has achieved all key goals so far, marking an important step in its broader lunar exploration plans.
