The astronauts will travel behind the moon during the flyby, going further than any NASA or international mission has gone before. But before they reach the moon, the Orion astronauts needed to leave the planet’s orbit, something that hadn’t been achieved by humans in over 50 years.
Lori Glaze announced the achievement in a press conference on Thursday, noting it was the first time humans had escaped Earth’s orbit since 1972.
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen comprise the four astronauts aboard Orion, making history as they navigate territory uncharted for over five decades.
HOW JARED ISAACMAN’S NOMINATION AS NASA CHIEF HAS CHANGED THE ARTEMIS MOON MISSION
Hansen told mission control that the four-man crew was “feeling pretty good up here” after the successful nominal translunar injection burn.
“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,” Hansen said.
Artemis II escapes Earth orbit and begins four-day journey to moon
