NASA's Artemis II crew is now more than halfway to the moon after a successful launch and initial journey. Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are traveling farther from Earth than any humans in 50 years. The Orion spacecraft completed its translunar injection burn on Thursday, officially leaving Earth's orbit. NASA's Artemis II mission is a crucial test flight paving the way for future lunar landings. The crew encountered minor issues, including troubleshooting a malfunctioning Surface Pro and a toilet problem, but resolved them with ground support. Commander Wiseman shared breathtaking photos of Earth from Orion, showing two auroras.

The astronauts will have a six-hour window on April 6 to observe the lunar far side.