"Orion" successfully orbits the moon and begins returning to Earth.

SighingCashier · 2026-04-08T08:40:42+00:00

NASA announced that the spacecraft Orion, which is executing the Artemis II crewed lunar orbit mission, began returning to Earth on Tuesday. Around 1 p.m. Eastern Time, Orion exited the Moon's gravitational influence, then ignited its thrusters to perform the first of three orbital correction burns, further calibrating its reentry trajectory. It is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday.On Monday, Orion used the Moon's gravity to enter a free-return trajectory in an "8" shape, flying around the far side of the Moon, marking the first human approach to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. By 1:57 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, the spacecraft was 406,771 kilometers from Earth, breaking the previous record.

SighingCashier

2026-04-08 08:40:42

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said that the spacecraft “Orion,” which will carry out the crewed lunar flyby mission “Artemis II” (Artemis II), began returning to Earth on Tuesday.

Orion, at about 1 p.m. Eastern Time, moved out of the Moon’s gravitational influence, then fired its engines, carrying out the first of three orbital correction burns to further fine-tune its trajectory back to Earth. The splashdown is expected on Friday in the Pacific Ocean.

On Monday, Orion used the Moon’s gravity to enter a “8”-shaped free-return trajectory, flying over the far side of the Moon—marking the first time humans have again approached the lunar surface since the 1972 “Apollo 17.” At 1:57 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, the spacecraft reached a distance of 406,771 kilometers from Earth, breaking the longest-crewed spaceflight record set by the 1970 “Apollo 13” mission—exceeding the older record by 6,600 kilometers. By 7:02 p.m. it set another record, with the spacecraft 406,778 kilometers from Earth.

At 9:20 p.m. Eastern Time, the astronauts witnessed a total solar eclipse, as the Sun disappeared behind the Moon’s far side. The astronauts also collected data to help scientists gain a deeper understanding of the Moon’s terrain and geological conditions.

After completing the lunar flyby, the four astronauts spoke via video with President Trump. Trump said the astronauts made history, something Americans can be proud of, and invited them to visit the White House.

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