TLI (Trans-Lunar Injection)

Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) is a carefully planned rocket maneuver used to send a spacecraft from Earth's orbit toward the Moon. It involves firing the spacecraft's engine at a specific point in its orbit around Earth to increase its speed and adjust its trajectory — effectively "pushing" the spacecraft onto a path that intersects with the Moon's orbit. This process requires precise calculations to ensure the spacecraft has the correct velocity and course to reach the Moon efficiently, setting it on a trajectory for the journey beyond Earth's atmosphere.