Artemis II continues trip towards the moon after successful launch

A Canadian astronaut is about to turn toward the moon. NASA’s Artemis program is taking its next big step today after we watched it blast off yesterday.

The goal is to orbit around the moon – the first human journey there since 1972.

Yesterday was all about the dramatic launch into space. Today is about getting those four astronauts actually on their way to the moon. But this mission isn’t really just focused on the moon, much of the research is focused on the health and wellness of the crew as they head into deep space.

Yesterday’s launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida was a success and the excitement is palpable. But the work for those four astronauts up in space is just beginning.

“Since launch it has been an intense period of work. There was only a four hour sleep opportunity for them last night, and they will have to work all the way to 9 a.m. tomorrow,” said Suzanne Bell, NASA’S principal investigator for Artemis research for crew health and readiness.

Suzanne says a lot of the work the astronauts are doing as they orbit Earth includes testing Orion’s life support systems and the communications networks.

“A lot of the testing they are doing is to not only make sure it’s safe to move them into deep space now, but to learn so we can prepare for a sustained presence on the moon,” said Bell.

READ MORE: Artemis II astronauts begin putting Orion capsule through tests

The Orion is set to make the four-day trip to the moon this evening after performing a translunar injection burn.

“They need to get into a different orbit that is leaving the Earth’s environment, and that’s what translunar – so across to the moon – injection means. They need to inject the spacecraft into a different orbit by firing that main engine at the right time, at the right place, give it a kick, increase the size of that orbit so that they escape low Earth orbit and head out towards the moon, and then they’ll be captured by the moon’s gravity,” said Jim Bell, space exploration professor at Arizona State University.

Once on course, the crew will continue their research.

Ahead of the launch yesterday there was a communications issue, which was quickly resolved. And there was an issue with the toileting system once in space that the crew is currently working on.

NASA says this is all part of the unpredictable nature of space travel.

“They will have to face whatever comes their way and adapt to whatever comes their way,” said Suzanne.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — born in London, Ont. — is the mission specialist on Artemis II. He is the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

As mentioned, they will be doing that translunar injection burn this evening which will propel them toward the moon. The trip there will take four days, and the whole mission will take 10.

READ MORE: Canadians set sights on the stars as NASA prepares launch of Artemis II