The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission have now left the Earth's orbit, after their Orion spacecraft fired its main engine for a final push towards the Moon.


The five minute and 55 second engine burn, known as the translunar injection (TLI), went 'flawlessly', Nasa's Dr Lori Glaze said afterwards.


From the Orion capsule, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen stated that the crew was 'feeling pretty good up here on our way to the Moon'.


Artemis II is now on a looping path that will carry the crew around the far side of the Moon and back again. It is the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled outside of Earth's orbit.


On the livestream from Orion, Earth is slowly shrinking as the capsule moves further and further into space.


Hansen, the first non-American to travel to the Moon, expressed to Nasa's mission control that the crew 'firmly felt the power' of those who persevered and worked hard on this mission, stating that 'humanity has once again shown what we are capable of.'


After spending roughly a day in a stretched-out 'high Earth orbit', Orion's engines, navigation, and life-support systems were checked, and the mission controllers finally approved the engine burn to begin their journey to the Moon.


The TLI propelled the spacecraft on a course expected to carry the crew farther from Earth than anyone has gone before—more than 4,700 miles (7,600 km) beyond the Moon—potentially eclipsing the Apollo 13 mission's record from 1970.


Even after the big burn to the Moon, the mission controllers can still execute a 'handbrake turn' in space in case of emergencies, ensuring safety for the astronauts on their historic journey.


As Orion surges into deep space, the crew is treated to increasingly inspirational views through its windows: the Earth shrinking behind them as the Moon grows larger in their sight.


On about the sixth day of the mission, as Orion cruises beyond the Moon, the astronauts are expected to witness a total solar eclipse, a spectacular alignment where the Moon will slide directly in front of the Sun, revealing its halo while Earth hangs off to the side.


The Artemis II mission not only symbolizes a crucial step in human exploration but also showcases international collaboration, as viewers around the world share in the awe and excitement of this groundbreaking mission.