Artemis crew describe tense moments after launch and send message home

Artemis II astronauts reported a tense propulsion burn after launch and sent back messages about views of Earth and a temporary onboard toilet fault that was fixed; Orion remains in Earth orbit en route to the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts reported a tense moment when the spacecraft performed a high‑speed boost out of Earth orbit as it headed toward the Moon. Commander Reid Wiseman described the burn that reached about 24,500 miles per hour and said the crew exchanged reactions after it finished. The four-person crew also sent messages about the view of Earth and handled several routine systems issues during early orbit. Orion is currently in Earth orbit and is scheduled to fire its main engine to begin the trip to the Moon. Known facts: - The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen (the first Canadian on the mission), Christina Koch, and pilot Victor Glover. - The spacecraft performed a high-speed burn reported at about 24,500 mph; Wiseman described those moments as "pretty tense". - A toilet malfunction forced the crew to delay use for several hours before Christina Koch and ground controllers resolved the fault; a closed valve on a water tank was also found and reset. - Orion is reported to be orbiting Earth at roughly 42,500 miles and is scheduled to fire its main engine to head toward the Moon, which is about 244,000 miles away. - The mission timeline reported that Orion is due to reach the Moon's far side on April 6, travel about 5,000 miles beyond the Moon, and return with a planned splashdown in the Pacific on April 10; NASA has said the flight is a step toward a planned 2028 lunar landing. Summary: The crew's updates combined descriptions of technical and routine onboard challenges with remarks about the view and the mission's significance, while ground teams assisted to resolve issues and continue testing. Orion is scheduled to depart Earth orbit for the Moon and complete its planned return with splashdown on April 10; the mission is described by NASA as part of preparations for a future lunar landing.