Orion

Àolǐ wēng

奥里翁

spacecraft

fēichuán

飞船

to complete

wánchéng

完成

engine

fādòng jī

发动机

burn / ignition

diǎnhuǒ

点火

，

to fly toward

fēi xiàng

飞向

the Moon

yuèqiú

月球

。

New Words

News in English

Orion Crew Completes Key Engine Burn and Begins Journey to the Moon

The US Orion spacecraft completed its translunar injection burn on April 2 and is now carrying four astronauts toward the Moon. The crew will fly past the Moon on April 6 before splashing down on April 10.

NASA's Orion spacecraft successfully lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1.

The spacecraft carries four astronauts, marking the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years.

On April 2, the spacecraft's main engine ignited for five minutes and fifty seconds.

This engine burn allowed the spacecraft to leave Earth orbit and fly toward the Moon.

The spacecraft will not enter lunar orbit, but rather will fly past the Moon at approximately 6,500 kilometers distance.

The four astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth on April 10.

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