NASA’s Artemis II mission is making history as humanity’s first trip to the moon since 1972. Four astronauts — three Americans and one Canadian — are on track to beat Apollo 13’s record for furthest from Earth as they make a six-hour flyby of the moon on Monday (April 6).
Apollo 13, famously dubbed “NASA’s successful failure,” missed its moon landing after an oxygen tank ruptured en route in 1970. Commander Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert reached a maximum of 248,655 miles (400,171 km) from Earth before returning safely using a free-return trajectory.
Artemis II follows a similar figure-eight path and flies around the moon without landing. Its astronauts are expected to exceed the distance of Apollo 13 by nearly 3,400 miles (5,400 km). Christina Koch, one of the crew members, said the milestone helps “merge the past with the present and even the future when new records are set.”
A close-up look at the moon
During the flyby, the astronauts will take turns observing and photographing the lunar surface. At closest approach, Orion will fly within 4,000 miles (6,400 km) of the Moon.
NASA geologist Kelsey Young said that despite less illumination on the far side due to the April 1 launch, the crew will still see previously unseen features, including large parts of the Orientale Basin.
Astronauts will use professional cameras and iPhones for occasional pictures. Before launch, the crew practiced extensively with lunar geography flashcards to identify key features during the flyby.
A total solar eclipse from space
A rare advantage of the mission’s timing is a total solar eclipse visible only from Orion. The Moon blocks the Sun for a few minutes, revealing the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona. Astronauts will monitor solar activity and use dark glasses to protect their eyes.
Temporary communication outage
Orion will be out of contact with Mission Control for about 40 minutes while behind the Moon. NASA’s Deep Space Network will have no line of sight during this period, reflecting power outages during the Apollo missions. Flight director Judd Frieling assured that the physics “will absolutely get us back to the front of the moon.”
The journey home and the connection with the space station
After completing the lunar flyby, Orion will return to Earth in four days with the goal of touching down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 10.
During the return journey, the Artemis II crew will communicate with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) – the first mission to the Moon – providing a unique opportunity for “space chat”, including crew members from the first all-female spacewalk in 2019: Koch aboard Orion and Jessica Meir on the ISS.
Looking Ahead: Milestones in Lunar Exploration
The Artemis II mission represents a critical step toward NASA’s long-term goal: a sustainable lunar base with landers, rovers, drones and habitats. The mission’s lunar observations and operational experience will guide future expeditions and advance human understanding of the far side of the Moon.
