{"id":579026,"date":"2026-04-03T06:26:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T06:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/579026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T06:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T06:26:11","slug":"artemis-ii-on-course-for-the-moon-after-day-in-earth-orbit-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/579026\/","title":{"rendered":"Artemis II on course for the moon after day in Earth orbit – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\tDescrease article font size<\/p>\n

\t\t\tIncrease article font size<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Artemis\u00a0II astronauts have fired their engines and are blazing toward the moon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The so-called translunar ignition came 25 hours after liftoff, putting the three Americans and one Canadian on course for a lunar fly-around early next week.<\/p>\n

Their Orion capsule has bolted out of orbit around Earth and chased after the moon nearly 250,000 miles away.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThis image taken from video provided by NASA shows the Earth, left, from NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft as it fired its engines heading toward the moon Thursday, April 2, 2026.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t(NASA via AP)\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Canadian Space Agency posted on social media Thursday evening saying that NASA confirmed that all critical systems onboard were in order and that Artemis II could continue its trajectory.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

It\u2019s official! Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian in history to head to the Moon. NASA confirmed that all Orion critical systems are in order and that Artemis II can continue its trajectory.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Canadian Space Agency (@csa_asc) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s official! Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian in history to head to the Moon,\u201d the statement from the Canadian Space Agency said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Get<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet breaking National news<\/p>\n

Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won’t miss a trending story.<\/p>\n

Hansen spoke to NASA from inside the Orion capsule minutes after the thruster firing, praising the milestone for humanity.<\/p>\n

He said the crew was glued to the windows, calling the view \u201cphenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four astronauts \u2014 including Hansen \u2014 aboard the Orion spacecraft lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after the two-hour launch window opened. Hansen was joined by veteran NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch.<\/p>\n

The 10-day mission is expected to take humans the farthest they\u2019ve ever gone before in space and will see humanity travel to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore on World
\n\t\t\tMore videos\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5:52
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExamining Canada\u2019s role in the Artemis II Mission\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the first engine firing for a moon crew since Apollo 17 set out on that era\u2019s final moonshot in 1972.<\/p>\n

NASA had the\u00a0Artemis\u00a0II crew stick close to home for a day to test their capsule\u2019s life-support systems before clearing them for lunar departure.<\/p>\n

Experts say Artemis II represents more than just a return to lunar orbit \u2014 it could lay the groundwork for deeper space exploration.<\/p>\n

\u2013with files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:02
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCanadians over the moon for Artemis II launch day\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tPrevious Video<\/p>\n

\t\tNext Video<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t