The Artemis II spacecraft is on its way to the Moon after Orion's main engine fired for five minutes and 50 seconds beginning at 7:49 pm EDT. This completed the translunar injection (TLI) burn, which has put the spacecraft on track to leave Earth's orbit and gave a forceful push towards the Moon. "Orion’s main engine provides up to 6,000 pounds of thrust, enough to accelerate a car from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.7 seconds," NASA said. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are on board Orion and later shared their experience of the TLI, which was pretty "intense", Wiseman, the mission commander, said in the first live stream from space. "The translunar injection was a pretty intense moment," Wiseman said, with Christina adding that things started falling around them because of the force with which the injection happens.&nbsp;The livestream from Orion saw all four astronauts huddled in a pretty tight space. They shared the experience they had following the launch, the work they did, and how they are sleeping, among other things. Victor Glover said they were surprised when the mission launched on Day 1 itself. He said that the engineers and the launch team had been working for weeks. Christina said the launch was smoother than they expected. "One of the biggest surprises was how smooth the launch felt," Koch said. Speaking of the mission's significance, Wiseman said that what humans have achieved with this task is huge. Speaking en route to the Moon, he said, "There is nothing normal about this setting for humans. We are 250,000 miles away, and that is a herculean effort. We are just now realising the gravity of it all."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/artemis-ii-astronauts-microsoft-outlook-problem-in-space-memes-1775188359700">'Blue screen of...': Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem in space</a><h2>How is Artemis II crew sleeping on Orion?</h2>The crew also talked about what they have been doing on the capsule since the launch. They shared they have been pretty busy and had a meal together after several hours. Wiseman shared they are trying to get comfortable with their nap positions, with Koch "sleeping like a bat", hanging upside down. She said it was "a comfortable position for her" and would remain there if no one “kicks her out.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artemis-ii-timeline-when-will-orion-reach-moon-1775100037747">Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon?</a><h2>Artemis II astronauts tell what Earth looks like from space&nbsp;</h2>The crew saw the whole Earth from one window of the capsule, which felt surreal. Talking about what Earth looked like from above, Glover said, "We want to tell everyone that you look amazing. You look like one thing. We are all one people." He added, "We've got to give ourselves a mission we can hold on to for the rest of our lives. This has happened when we have differences. Imagine what we can do when we put those differences aside and come together."&nbsp;Artemis II Orion is scheduled to reach the Moon on April 6, from where it will carry out a lunar flyby and return home using the Moon's gravity.

Artemis II live stream from space: Orion left Earth orbit after a translunar injection (TLI) burn was completed, putting the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon. Astronauts shared from space what Earth looked like and what a herculean effort the mission is.

The Artemis II spacecraft is on its way to the Moon after Orion's main engine fired for five minutes and 50 seconds beginning at 7:49 pm EDT. This completed the translunar injection (TLI) burn, which has put the spacecraft on track to leave Earth's orbit and gave a forceful push towards the Moon. "Orion’s main engine provides up to 6,000 pounds of thrust, enough to accelerate a car from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.7 seconds," NASA said. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are on board Orion and later shared their experience of the TLI, which was pretty "intense", Wiseman, the mission commander, said in the first live stream from space. "The translunar injection was a pretty intense moment," Wiseman said, with Christina adding that things started falling around them because of the force with which the injection happens. The livestream from Orion saw all four astronauts huddled in a pretty tight space. They shared the experience they had following the launch, the work they did, and how they are sleeping, among other things. Victor Glover said they were surprised when the mission launched on Day 1 itself. He said that the engineers and the launch team had been working for weeks. Christina said the launch was smoother than they expected. "One of the biggest surprises was how smooth the launch felt," Koch said. Speaking of the mission's significance, Wiseman said that what humans have achieved with this task is huge. Speaking en route to the Moon, he said, "There is nothing normal about this setting for humans. We are 250,000 miles away, and that is a herculean effort. We are just now realising the gravity of it all." Also Read: 'Blue screen of...': Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem in space How is Artemis II crew sleeping on Orion? The crew also talked about what they have been doing on the capsule since the launch. They shared they have been pretty busy and had a meal together after several hours. Wiseman shared they are trying to get comfortable with their nap positions, with Koch "sleeping like a bat", hanging upside down. She said it was "a comfortable position for her" and would remain there if no one “kicks her out.” Also Read: Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon? Artemis II astronauts tell what Earth looks like from space The crew saw the whole Earth from one window of the capsule, which felt surreal. Talking about what Earth looked like from above, Glover said, "We want to tell everyone that you look amazing. You look like one thing. We are all one people." He added, "We've got to give ourselves a mission we can hold on to for the rest of our lives. This has happened when we have differences. Imagine what we can do when we put those differences aside and come together." Artemis II Orion is scheduled to reach the Moon on April 6, from where it will carry out a lunar flyby and return home using the Moon's gravity.

Artemis II live stream from space: Orion left Earth orbit after a translunar injection (TLI) burn was completed, putting the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon. Astronauts shared from space what Earth looked like and what a herculean effort the mission is.

'Nothing normal about this': Artemis II astronauts on having humans 250,000 miles away in space

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, marks humanity’s return to deep space nearly 55 years after the Apollo missions. The 10-day journey, launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, carries astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar flyby. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II cannot receive fresh provisions, making its food system essential. &nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II has no option for resupply or fresh food, so every item aboard must be shelf-stable, safe, and compatible with microgravity. To meet these constraints, NASA designed a menu that balances nutritional requirements, morale, and operational practicality. Each astronaut has carefully selected meals tested during preflight to ensure ease of preparation, proper calorie intake, and suitability for life beyond Earth orbit.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cake-cookies-bbq-brisket-in-space-inside-nasa-s-189-item-menu-for-artemis-ii-s-10-day-mission-1775121196827">Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? Inside NASA’s 189-item menu for Artemis II’s 10-day mission</a>&nbsp;The crew participated in preflight testing to help select meals, ensuring that calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake were all carefully balanced. Main entrées consist of tortillas, wheat flatbread, vegetable quiche, breakfast sausage, couscous with nuts, mango salad, granola with blueberries, almonds, cashews, barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, spicy green beans, macaroni and cheese, tropical fruit salad, butternut squash, and cauliflower. Desserts feature chocolate pudding cake, maple cream cookies, cobbler, and candy-coated almonds. Yet, despite the carefully curated menu of 189 items, some common food staples, like breads, salt, and pepper, are intentionally excluded, reflecting the unique challenges of preparing and consuming food in microgravity.<h2>Why Bread, Salt and Pepper Are Banned</h2>Flour tortillas have long replaced traditional bread in space, first introduced on shuttle missions in 1985. Their low crumb count prevents particles from floating freely in microgravity, which could interfere with instruments or clog ventilation systems. Similarly, salt and pepper are excluded, as loose grains would not settle on food and could contaminate cabin air, posing safety risks. Polyethylene dropper bottles provide bulk supplies of liquid seasonings: pepper suspended in oil and salt dissolved in water.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Artemis II crew has successfully completed the proximity operations demonstration! This test allows the astronauts to practice piloting Orion similarly to how they would if they were docking with another spacecraft — an important early test objective for the mission. <a href="https://t.co/5FzBI96Lu3">pic.twitter.com/5FzBI96Lu3</a>&mdash; NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAArtemis/status/2039548883550822689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Additionally, carbonated drinks are banned as bubbles don’t separate in microgravity, causing ‘wet burps,’ while alcohol is prohibited due to impairment risks and potential damage to water recycling systems.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/toilet-trouble-in-space-what-went-wrong-with-artemis-ii-s-toilet-how-it-was-fixed-1775123659797">Toilet trouble in space: What went wrong with Artemis II’s toilet, how it was fixed?</a>&nbsp;NASA uses freeze-dried, thermostabilised, and irradiated foods, combined with pre-measured powdered seasonings and beverages for precise, safe consumption. Drinks, including coffee, tea, orange juice, lemonade, and apple cider arrive in foil-sealed pouches with septum adapters that interface with Orion’s potable water dispenser. This allows astronauts to rehydrate beverages directly without spillage. Each meal is carefully portioned and packaged to maintain nutritional balance, ensure ease of handling, and prevent contamination, enabling the crew to consume all items safely throughout the 10-day Artemis II mission.<h2>Eating in Orbit: Trays, Utensils and Cleanup</h2>Astronauts use meal trays strapped to their laps or fixed to the wall to manage multiple dishes simultaneously. This replicates a conventional dining experience while preventing food containers from floating away. After meals, containers are disposed of in the trash compartment beneath the middeck floor. Utensils and trays are cleaned using premoistened sanitising towelettes. This careful orchestration of meal planning, preparation, and cleanup allows the Artemis II crew to enjoy 189 menu items safely, maintaining nutrition and comfort throughout their 10-day lunar journey.

NASA's Artemis 2 mission launched April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon in an Orion capsule. 

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, marks humanity’s return to deep space nearly 55 years after the Apollo missions. The 10-day journey, launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, carries astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar flyby. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II cannot receive fresh provisions, making its food system essential. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II has no option for resupply or fresh food, so every item aboard must be shelf-stable, safe, and compatible with microgravity. To meet these constraints, NASA designed a menu that balances nutritional requirements, morale, and operational practicality. Each astronaut has carefully selected meals tested during preflight to ensure ease of preparation, proper calorie intake, and suitability for life beyond Earth orbit. ALSO READ: Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? Inside NASA’s 189-item menu for Artemis II’s 10-day mission The crew participated in preflight testing to help select meals, ensuring that calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake were all carefully balanced. Main entrées consist of tortillas, wheat flatbread, vegetable quiche, breakfast sausage, couscous with nuts, mango salad, granola with blueberries, almonds, cashews, barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, spicy green beans, macaroni and cheese, tropical fruit salad, butternut squash, and cauliflower. Desserts feature chocolate pudding cake, maple cream cookies, cobbler, and candy-coated almonds. Yet, despite the carefully curated menu of 189 items, some common food staples, like breads, salt, and pepper, are intentionally excluded, reflecting the unique challenges of preparing and consuming food in microgravity. Why Bread, Salt and Pepper Are Banned Flour tortillas have long replaced traditional bread in space, first introduced on shuttle missions in 1985. Their low crumb count prevents particles from floating freely in microgravity, which could interfere with instruments or clog ventilation systems. Similarly, salt and pepper are excluded, as loose grains would not settle on food and could contaminate cabin air, posing safety risks. Polyethylene dropper bottles provide bulk supplies of liquid seasonings: pepper suspended in oil and salt dissolved in water.

NASA's Artemis 2 mission launched April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon in an Orion capsule.&nbsp;

Artemis II mission: Why NASA’s 189-Item menu omits bread, salt & pepper. How these everyday foods become hazardous in space

NASA has begun its two-day countdown for the historic NASA Artemis II launch, marking the first time humans will travel to the moon since 1972. This long-anticipated mission will carry astronauts on a loop around Earth’s satellite, paving the way for future lunar exploration and potential Mars missions. The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA’s vision for sustained human presence on the moon.

We Are Going Back | NASA Artemis II Launch | First Humans To The Moon Since 1972 

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'Nothing normal about this': Artemis II astronauts on having humans 250,000 miles away in space

Artemis II mission: Why NASA’s 189-Item menu omits bread, salt & pepper

We Are Going Back | NASA Artemis II Launch | First Humans To The Moon Since 1972