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

First-ever Orion workout validates crew fitness capability

Commander Reed Wiseman completed a 30-minute aerobic exercise using the flywheel device, reporting effective sound suppression that allowed conversational communication without earplugs.

Static electricity detected during flywheel use

Wiseman noted accumulating static charge while exercising that discharged when touching metal surfaces, providing new data for future deep-space mission planning.

Solar array parking protects spacecraft during activity

Ground teams confirmed minor oscillations visible during exercise are expected and safe, with solar arrays positioned to prevent damage from imparted loads.

GoPro Max cameras require manual 360-mode reset

CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen troubleshot National Geographic-provided cameras that default to standard video after power cycling, necessitating manual reconfiguration for 360-degree filming.

Water collection operations proceed after valve fix

Mission specialist Christina Cook stowed approximately seven liters of water in contingency bags following resolution of a valve issue observed yesterday, preparing for post-TLI operations.

Communication system handover completed

Crew switched from Deep Space Network to Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System as Orion closed to 8,600 miles from Earth ahead of the lunar injection burn.

TLI burn commits crew to lunar trajectory

The 5-minute 49-second engine firing at 115 miles altitude at 6:49 p.m. Central Time will send the crew beyond the moon for the first time in over 50 years, targeting April 10th splashdown.

High Earth orbit checkout validates spacecraft systems

The 24-hour orbital checkout allowed teams to verify spacecraft performance with crew aboard for the first time, confirming readiness for the lunar commitment burn.

Backup burn plans uploaded for contingencies

Ground teams uplinked updated de-orbit and abort burn plans for 8-hour and 16-hour post-TLI scenarios, ensuring flight day 2 procedures match crew training materials.