Artemis II Astronauts Leave Moon, Begin Journey Back to Earth

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Artemis II astronauts have officially started their journey back to Earth, marking the final phase of their historic mission around the Moon. At 10:55 pm IST on Tuesday, the Orion spacecraft exited the Moon’s sphere of influence, the region where lunar gravity dominates. With that transition, Earth’s gravitational pull has once again taken over.The spacecraft had earlier used the Moon’s gravity as a natural slingshot, gaining the speed required for its return trajectory toward Earth.

What Happens Next for the Crew?

With the Moon now behind them, the astronauts are entering a three-day transit phase back to Earth. This period is critical for fine-tuning the spacecraft’s path and preparing for reentry. The crew will carry out a series of trajectory correction burns, brief, controlled engine firings, to ensure Orion enters Earth’s atmosphere at the precise angle.The margin for error is extremely small. A shallow angle could cause the capsule to skip off the atmosphere, while a steep entry could expose it to dangerously high temperatures.