Artemis II Flight Day 2: TLI Burn Complete, Orion Officially En Route to the Moon
Credit: NASA (Public Domain)
Summary: According to NASA, the Artemis II Orion spacecraft successfully completed the Translunar Injection (TLI) burn at 7:49 PM EDT, with the main engine firing for 5 minutes and 50 seconds and consuming approximately 1,000 pounds of fuel. The spacecraft has left Earth orbit and is now on a trajectory toward the Moon — the first time humans have been en route to the Moon in 53 years.
TLI Burn Key Data
- Ignition time: 7:49 PM EDT (23:49 UTC)
- Duration: 5 minutes and 50 seconds
- Engine thrust: Up to 6,000 pounds (~27 kN)
- Spacecraft mass (at burn): 58,000 pounds
- Fuel consumed: ~1,000 pounds
Crew In-Orbit Activities
Crew members completed their first in-space exercise sessions on the flywheel exercise device. Weighing just 30 pounds and roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, the device uses a cable-based mechanism to provide up to 400 pounds of resistance — supporting rowing, squats, and deadlifts. By contrast, ISS exercise hardware weighs over 4,000 pounds and occupies roughly 850 cubic feet.
Ground teams simultaneously monitored the spacecraft's air revitalization system and assessed how exercise impacts spacecraft attitude.
The crew also successfully checked out the AVATAR scientific payload.
Communications Issue Resolved
Engineers confirmed that a brief loss of two-way communications shortly after orbital insertion was caused by a TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) system ground configuration issue. It was quickly rectified with no impact to mission operations.
Lunar Flyby Observation Planning Underway
The lunar science team has begun developing a Lunar Targeting Plan to guide crew observations during the approximately six-hour flyby window on Monday, April 6:
- Craters and ancient lava flows
- Cracks and ridges formed as the Moon's outer layer shifted over time
- Features that help scientists understand the formation of the Moon and solar system
Near the end of the flyby window, a solar eclipse lasting nearly one hour will occur — from Orion's perspective, the Sun will be hidden behind the Moon.