NASA Artemis II Astronauts Leave Earth Orbit for the Moon

Translunar injection (TLI) burn puts the Integrity Orion spacecraft on course for lunar orbit.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 03, 2026 at 09:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Cameras on NASA’s Integrity Orion spacecraft capture images of Earth as four astronauts orbit the planet during flight day one of Artemis II. [Credit: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's historic Artemis II mission has commenced, sending four astronauts on the first crewed journey towards lunar orbit since the Apollo era, aiming to venture farther from Earth than any human has before.
The crew successfully executed the critical translunar injection (TLI) burn, setting them on a precise, figure-eight trajectory for a lunar flyby and a gravity-assisted "free return" to Earth.
This 10-day test flight will include a historic lunar flyby where astronauts will observe the moon, gather critical data, and test spacecraft systems, with specific modifications to the capsule's heat shield for a safer atmospheric reentry after issues on Artemis I.

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After orbiting the Earth twice, four astronauts have officially begun their four-day journey to the moon.

Friday marks the start of flight day three for NASA’s historic Artemis II mission, which is sending three Americans and one Canadian farther from Earth than any human has ever ventured. It is NASA’s first crewed mission to lunar orbit since the Apollo era more than half a century ago.