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What’s next for Artemis I? NASA’s Orion spacecraft performs moon slingshot en route to Earth

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — NASA’s Orion spacecraft is making its way back to Earth after a final orbital maneuver around the moon.

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Orion completed its last lunar flyby at 11:43 a.m.

Read: Artemis I: 9 things to know about NASA’s mission to return humans to the moon

The spacecraft flew about 79 miles above the moon’s surface just before its rocket burn to head back to Earth.

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

This is all part of the Artemis moon mission paving the way for NASA to send astronauts back to the moon.

Read: NASA cancels greenhouse gas monitoring satellite due to cost

Orion is expected to land back on Earth Sunday at 12:40 p.m.

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