Orion spacecraft to leave moon’s orbit and begin journey back to Earth

The Orion spacecraft is getting ready to head back to Earth.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

NASA’s Artemis I mission management team gave the “Go” Wednesday for the spacecraft to leave its distant retrograde orbit on the moon starting Thursday afternoon.

Read: NASA cancels greenhouse gas monitoring satellite due to cost

It has been traveling around the moon since last Friday.

NASA flight director Zebulon Scoville said Orion is being pushed to its limits.

Watch: NASA leaders confirm discovery of artifact from space shuttle Challenger

“This vehicle really needs to be thought of as a human craft that will take humanity to the moon on Artemis II and III and subsequent missions,” Scoville said.

Orion’s moon flyby with astronauts is set for 2024, with a lunar landing planned for a year later.

Read: Space diversity: Europe’s space agency gets 1st parastronaut

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.