The four astronauts concluded a historic journey around the lunar far side that included their greatest distance from the planet. “We will always choose Earth,” Christina Koch said in words to humanity after emerging from a communications blackout.

The engine firing provided a slingshot-like boost to the Orion capsule, speeding it up to some 25,000 mph, the velocity needed to break free of Earth's gravitational clasp for a trek to the moon.

The Artemis II crew lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET.

After a day of testing the Orion capsule high above the planet, the crew of the NASA mission became the first people to head into deep space since 1972. Katrina Miller Reporting from Johnson Space Center in Houston. Astronauts are officially headed to the ...

Check back for live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team launch updates on this page, starting about 90 minutes before ULA's post-midnight launch window opens.

The Artemis II crew is more than halfway to their final destination of the moon.