Artemis II Crew Completes Crucial Trajectory Correction Burn

Mission teams in Houston and the Artemis II astronauts work together to refine the spacecraft's path to the Moon.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:51am

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The Artemis II crew and mission control teams in Houston have successfully completed an outbound correction burn to refine the trajectory of the Orion spacecraft as it heads toward the Moon. The 17.5-second burn, which took place at 11:03 p.m. EDT, will help ensure the spacecraft and its four astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - are on the precise path for their upcoming lunar flyby on Monday, April 6.

Why it matters

The outbound correction burn is a critical maneuver to fine-tune Orion's trajectory and ensure the spacecraft arrives at the Moon at the right time and in the right orientation for the highly anticipated lunar flyby. This flyby will set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

The details

Earlier in the day, the Artemis II crew also completed a key test of the Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) suit, which is designed to protect astronauts during dynamic phases of flight and provide life support in the event of cabin depressurization or after splashdown. All four crew members participated in the full sequence of tests, including putting on and pressurizing the suit, performing leak checks, simulating seat entry, and assessing mobility and their ability to eat and drink while wearing the suit.

  • The outbound correction burn began at 11:03 p.m. EDT and lasted 17.5 seconds.
  • The crew will enter the Moon's sphere of influence at 12:41 a.m. on Monday, April 6, when the Moon's gravity becomes the dominant force controlling Orion's trajectory.
  • The crew's lunar flyby will begin at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 6.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) suit

A specialized suit that protects astronauts during dynamic phases of flight and provides life support in the event of cabin depressurization and survival operations after splashdown.

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What’s next

The crew is scheduled to begin their sleep period for the day at 2:20 a.m., and will receive their wake up call to begin flight day 6 at 10:50 a.m. on Monday, April 6. The main event of flight day 6 will be the crew's flyby around the far side of the Moon.

The takeaway

The successful completion of the outbound correction burn and the crew's testing of the Orion Crew Survival System suit are crucial milestones in the Artemis II mission, ensuring the spacecraft and its astronauts are prepared for the historic lunar flyby and the record-breaking distance they will travel from Earth.