NASA’s Artemis II mission achieved a historic milestone this Friday as the Orion spacecraft successfully performed its “Translunar Injection Burn.” By firing its main engine for nearly six minutes, the spacecraft generated 6,000 pounds of thrust, breaking free from Earth’s gravity and setting a perfect course for the Moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed the success, stating that the U.S. is ready to go “further than ever before.”

The crew, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, began their official journey to the Moon following a successful launch from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday. This is the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years since Apollo 17. The 10-day mission involves looping around the Moon to test critical systems before returning to Earth via a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Artemis II serves as a vital precursor to NASA’s goal of landing the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.