LIVE: NASA's first crewed moon mission in half century

Perigee raise burn completed successfully

The Orion spacecraft completed a 50-second burn using eight PEX engines to adjust its orbital geometry, raising the perigee to set up for the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn scheduled for flight day two.

Solar arrays optimized for power generation

The four 23-foot solar array wings on the service module were positioned to track the sun on two axes, ensuring maximum electricity generation during the critical maneuver.

Deep Space Network emergency comm verified

The crew successfully tested emergency communications (Emercom) via NASA's Deep Space Network, confirming backup voice capabilities would function if primary communications were lost.

Service module data monitoring

Astronauts reported service module propulsion system cautions and intermittent cyan data on oxidizer pressure readings, which mission control monitored throughout the initial orbits.

Cabin temperature and airflow issues

Crew members reported cold temperatures throughout the cabin, particularly near the toilet and side hatch where high airflow volume created cold spots, prompting ground control to adjust shell heaters and reduce fan speeds.

Spectacular Earth photography from 38,000 miles

From approximately 38,000 nautical miles away, astronauts captured detailed images of the Indian continent's coastline, river systems, and the terminator line, noting a distinct pink hue along the sunset horizon.

Modern camera exposure difficulties

GoPro and iPhone cameras struggled with overexposure and automatic gain control when photographing Earth, while traditional DSLRs with window shrouds and three-frame bracketing produced crisper results at 400mm.

Microphone handling technique clarified

After volume issues during earlier communications, ground control instructed the crew to identify the microphone side of handheld units by a small black raised nub, distinguishing it from the noise-canceling side.