Artemis II is on path to the moon after key engine burn.

NASA commanded Artemis II's translunar injection burn on April 2, sending Orion onto a free‑return path that will carry the crew about a quarter‑million miles from Earth. The roughly six‑minute firing is the mission's last major engine burn and reshaped the spacecraft's trajectory to use the moon's gravity to bring Orion back.

NASA commanded Artemis II's translunar injection burn just before 8 p.m. ET on April 2, less than 24 hours after the mission launched from Kennedy Space Center. The roughly six‑minute engine firing, executed by Orion's main engine on the European Service Module, increased the spacecraft's speed so it could leave Earth's gravity. That burn is the mission's last major engine firing and marks the point at which controllers commit to the lunar loop. The 10‑day test flight will carry the crew on a free‑return trajectory that uses lunar gravity to return Orion to Earth. What we know: - Flight controllers polled "go" and commanded translunar injection (TLI) at just before 8 p.m. ET on April 2. - The TLI firing lasted about six minutes and was performed by Orion's main engine on the European Service Module. - The burn placed Orion on a free‑return trajectory that will send it roughly a quarter‑million miles from Earth and use the moon's gravity to slingshot the spacecraft back. - Artemis II is a 10‑day mission crewed by Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch. - Crew activities so far have included setting up the spacecraft toilet, a piloting demonstration around the spent propulsion system, and adapting to unexpectedly cold cabin temperatures. Summary: The translunar injection burn commits Artemis II to its planned lunar loop while testing systems and procedures intended for later Artemis missions. The mission will continue along the free‑return path and mission teams will monitor the spacecraft as it reaches its farthest distance; specific upcoming maneuvers are undetermined at this time.