As Artemis II zooms to the Moon, everything seems to be going swimmingly

As the Artemis II mission entered its third day, the spacecraft's powerful engine had propelled the astronauts into a fascinating journey towards the Moon. This pivotal moment granted the crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—some well-deserved downtime. During this period, the astronauts enjoyed meaningful conversations with their families and participated in various media engagements. They conducted routine medical check-ins with healthcare professionals back in Houston, reassuring everyone that they were not experiencing any symptoms of space adaptation sickness. The crew also took advantage of the breathtaking views from space, capturing stunning photographs. Commander Wiseman shared an extraordinary image depicting the night side of Earth, showcasing two glowing auroras and zodiacal light in the corner. The Sun illuminated the far side of the planet, creating a mesmerizing backdrop. At a news conference on Friday afternoon, NASA exploration official Lakiesha Hawkins expressed confidence in the crew's morale, stating, "They are in great spirits. Obviously, they’ve been very, very busy, especially leading up to the translunar injection." The crucial engine firing that set Orion on its lunar trajectory happened Thursday evening, positioning the spacecraft for its closest approach to the Moon on Monday afternoon. Following this historic pass, the crew is scheduled to return, splashing down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California on Friday, April 10.