The Artemis II crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, has set a new distance record from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13's 1970 achievement. They are currently on a lunar fly-around, observing the moon's far side and preparing for a Friday splashdown, marking a significant step for future moon missions.
The Artemis II mission has made history as its four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen — broke Apollo 13’s 1970 distance record from Earth by more than 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers). The crew is currently executing a lunar fly-around, utilizing a fuel-efficient free-return trajectory, similar to Apollo 13, to slingshot around the moon. During their close approach, passing within 4,070 miles (6,550 kilometers) of the lunar surface, they are conducting intense observations of the moon's far side, including the sprawling Orientale Basin, the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites, and fringes of the south polar region. The mission also provided the astronauts with a unique view of a total solar eclipse from behind the moon. This test flight, NASA’s first astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972, will conclude with a Pacific splashdown on Friday after a four-day return journey. Artemis II is a crucial precursor to Artemis III, which will practice lunar lander docking, and Artemis IV in 2028, aiming for the first human moon landing near the south pole since Apollo. Astronaut Victor Glover reflected on the mission's spiritual significance during Holy Week, emphasizing humanity's shared existence.
