NASA's Orion capsule enters far-flung orbit around moon
This screengrab from NASA shows inside the NASA moon rocket, an un-crewed test flight, on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. NASA's new moon rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. Credit: NASA via AP

As it neared the halfway point of its test flight, NASA's Orion capsule entered an elliptical circle around the moon.

The $4 billion demo that's meant to pave the way for astronauts was launched more than a week ago. It will stay in this broad but stable path for a week before heading home.

The capsule was 238,000 miles away from Earth. It is expected to reach a maximum distance in a few days. It will set a new distance record for a capsule.

In an interview with NASA earlier in the week, Jim Geffre said that it was symbolic for it to be a stat. It's about pushing beyond the limits of what we've done before and staying longer.

NASA's Orion capsule enters far-flung orbit around moon
This image provided by NASA shows flight Day 9 imagery that NASA's Orion spacecraft captured looking back at the Earth from a camera mounted on one of its solar arrays. NASA's Orion capsule is now circling the moon in an orbit stretching tens of thousands of miles. The capsule and its three test dummies entered the far-flung orbit Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, more than a week after launching on the test flight. Credit: NASA via AP

The next moon flyby is considered a dress rehearsal. There is a chance that a lunar landing by astronauts will happen in the near future. Fifty years ago, astronauts visited the moon.

Mission Control in Houston lost contact with the capsule. The communication link between the Deep Space Network and the spaceship was being adjusted. The officials said the craft was in good shape.

NASA's Orion capsule enters far-flung orbit around moon
This screengrab from NASA TV shows NASA's Orion capsule, left, nearing the moon, right, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. At center is earth. Credit: NASA via AP

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NASA Orion capsuleNASAun-crewed test flightNASA moon rocket
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