CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (FNN) — For the first time in more than 50 years, astronauts on a NASA mission are headed around the Moon after successfully completing a critical burn of the Orion spacecraft’s main engine.

The approximately six-minute firing of Orion’s service module engine Thursday — known as the translunar injection burn — accelerated the spacecraft and its crew beyond Earth’s orbit, placing them on a trajectory toward the Moon.

Aboard the spacecraft are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

“Today, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have departed Earth orbit,” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. “Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy now are on a precise trajectory toward the Moon. Orion is operating with crew for the first time in space, and we are gathering critical data and learning from each step.”

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m. EDT on April 1, beginning a planned 10-day test mission around the Moon and back.

Successful Launch and Spacecraft Activation

Shortly after reaching space, Orion deployed its four solar array wings, allowing the spacecraft to generate power from the Sun. The crew and mission controllers then began transitioning the spacecraft from launch to normal flight operations while checking critical onboard systems.

About 49 minutes into the flight, the rocket’s upper stage fired to place Orion into an elliptical orbit around Earth. A second burn propelled the spacecraft — named “Integrity” by the crew — into a high Earth orbit extending roughly 46,000 miles above the planet for nearly 24 hours of system testing.

Following the maneuver, Orion separated from the upper stage and began flying independently.

System Tests and Crew Operations in Space

During the early phase of the mission, the astronauts conducted a manual piloting demonstration to evaluate Orion’s handling capabilities using the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage as a docking target.

After the test, Orion executed an automated departure burn to safely move away from the stage. The propulsion stage later performed a disposal burn before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere over a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

Before its re-entry, four small CubeSats were deployed from the rocket’s Orion stage adapter to conduct separate scientific missions.

Mission teams also transitioned communications to NASA’s Deep Space Network while the crew adjusted to the space environment. Astronauts completed their first rest periods, performed onboard exercise routines, restored the spacecraft’s toilet to normal operations and prepared the spacecraft for the translunar injection burn.

Lunar Flyby and Artemis Program Goals

The crew is scheduled to conduct a lunar flyby Monday, April 6, when astronauts will capture high-resolution images and make observations of the Moon’s surface — including portions of the lunar far side rarely seen directly by humans.

Although the far side will only be partially illuminated during the flyby, the lighting conditions are expected to cast long shadows across the terrain, highlighting ridges, slopes and crater rims that are difficult to observe under full sunlight.

After completing the flyby, the astronauts will return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

The mission marks a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send astronauts on increasingly ambitious missions to explore the Moon, advance scientific discovery, stimulate economic growth and prepare for the first crewed missions to Mars.

MIAMI, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — No. 14-ranked Karolína Muchová delivered a dominant performance at the Miami Open, defeating the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.

The Czech star controlled the match from the opening game, racing to a 6-0 first-set victory before maintaining her aggressive play in the second set to close out the match in convincing fashion.

Muchova Takes Early Control

Muchova wasted little time asserting control, quickly building momentum and dictating play from the baseline. Her consistent groundstrokes and aggressive approach left Eala struggling to find rhythm throughout the match.

The 29-year-old Czech player dominated the opening set without dropping a game and carried that momentum into the second set, allowing just two games before sealing the win.

Karolina Muchova Cruises Past Alexandra Eala in Straight Sets at Miami Open. Roman D. Garary / Florida National News

Post-Match Reaction

Speaking in an on-court interview with Tennis Channel, Muchova said she focused on controlling the match against a dangerous opponent.

“I just wanted to control the game because I know she can be very dangerous, especially here where she had an amazing result last year,” Muchova said.

“So I tried to control the game, keep myself at the baseline and play aggressive — and it worked pretty well,” she added.

Alexandra Eala at Miami Open. Roman D. Garary / Florida National News

Impact on Eala’s Ranking

The loss marked Eala’s second defeat to a Czech player in two weeks. She previously fell to Linda Nosková in the Round of 16 at the Indian Wells Open on March 11.