Artemis II crew enters moon’s gravitational grip ahead of historic flyby

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, is commencing a flyby of the moon's far side, setting them on course to become the furthest humans from Earth. The crew has entered the moon's sphere of influence, where its gravity supersedes Earth's. This six-hour flyby is the mission's climax, aiming to surpass the Apollo 13 record for distance from Earth. Unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II will orbit at a higher altitude, allowing observation of the entire lunar surface, including the poles. The free-return trajectory utilizes Earth and moon gravity to conserve fuel, guiding the spacecraft back home after passing behind the moon, during which a communications blackout is expected. The astronauts will visually observe and photograph the lunar surface, capturing views previously unseen by humans.

On Monday, a NASA crew of four astronauts on the Artemis II mission will fly by the far side of the moon, reaching their closest distance to the lunar surface and the nearest any human has been to the moon in over 50 years. This fly-by, scheduled for just after 7pm New York time, will allow the astronauts to photograph the moon's far side, which is never visible from Earth. The Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, is a rehearsal to test vehicles for future lunar landings, potentially within two years. Earlier in the day, around 2pm New York time, the crew will break the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled in space, surpassing the Apollo 13 mission's record from 1970.

The Artemis II mission, launched by NASA, is currently underway with the goal of performing a lunar fly-around. The astronauts are aiming to set a new distance record from Earth. The mission, which began in early April 2026, involves the crew traveling in the Orion spacecraft. A key objective is to provide the astronauts with unprecedented views of the far side of the moon. NASA has released images taken by the crew during their journey, showcasing the moon and Earth from space.

The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed moon mission in over 50 years, is underway with four astronauts from the US and Canada. Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the crew captured images of Earth from space, showcasing the planet's curvature and cloud formations. As of Friday morning, the Orion capsule was 90,000 miles from Earth and en route to the moon, with an estimated arrival on Monday. The mission involves orbiting the moon before returning to Earth, without landing. This marks the first lunar voyage since Apollo 17 in 1972.

NASA released the first images taken from the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, showing Earth as the four astronauts journey around the moon. The photos, taken on Friday, April 3, 2026, depict Earth with cloud formations and a green aurora. As of Friday, the crew, including mission commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch, were 100,000 miles from Earth and closing in on the moon, which they are expected to reach on Monday. The Artemis II mission is a planned 10-day flight where the crew will fly around the moon in the Orion capsule before returning to Earth without landing. The spacecraft was set on its course after the crew fired Orion’s main engine on Thursday night.

The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed moon mission in over 50 years, has captured initial images of Earth from space. Commander Reid Wiseman took the photos from the Orion spacecraft, approximately 145,000 km (90,000 miles) from Earth. One image shows a curved slice of Earth through a capsule window, while the other captures the entire globe with cloud formations. The images were released by NASA on Friday, one and a half days into the mission. The Artemis II crew is continuing its journey, with another 270,000 km (168,000 miles) to the moon.

The Artemis II mission launched on Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, sending four astronauts on a journey around the moon. This mission, carrying three Americans and one Canadian, represents humanity's farthest venture into space in decades. Artemis II is NASA's significant step towards returning humans to the lunar surface this decade, amid a US lunar race with China. The launch, years in the making and facing prior delays, experienced a brief technical issue before being resolved. The event drew large crowds, reminiscent of the Apollo era, eager to witness this new chapter in space exploration.

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts on a lunar voyage, launched on Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marks humanity's first lunar voyage in over fifty years and is a crucial step in NASA's plan to land on the moon within two years. Following the launch, a problem arose with the spacecraft's toilet. An overnight fix was implemented, and the toilet is now functioning properly, much to the relief of the astronauts. The Artemis II mission is a high-stakes flight around the moon.

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, has begun its 10-day voyage to the moon, marking the first time in fifty years humans will leave Earth's vicinity for lunar orbit. Launched from the Kennedy Space Center, the mission is a crucial test for NASA's plans to return humans to the moon this decade. The crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, will perform a translunar injection burn to propel the Orion spacecraft towards the moon, loop around its far side, and use its gravity for a return trajectory. This mission will test critical systems for future Artemis missions, including proximity operations and long-distance communication, despite minor initial issues. The Artemis II mission aims to pave the way for sustained lunar presence.

NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, marking humanity's first trip to the moon since 1972. The mission will last less than 10 days, with the Orion capsule traveling thousands of miles beyond the moon before returning to Earth. The Artemis II crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, representing a diverse and international team. The mission aims to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule in preparation for future lunar landings. The SLS rocket, while shorter than the Apollo program's Saturn V, is more powerful at liftoff.

The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to orbit the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The crew consists of three NASA astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. These individuals are experienced pilots, engineers, and scientists. Wiseman, a US Navy test pilot and single father, previously served on the International Space Station. The mission aims to test the path for future lunar habitation and eventual Mars exploration. The astronauts are preparing for the risks involved while balancing their personal lives and families.

NASA has begun the countdown for the Artemis II mission, humanity's first lunar launch in 53 years, scheduled for Wednesday evening. The Space Launch System rocket will carry four astronauts in the Orion capsule on a nearly 10-day flight to orbit the moon and return to Earth. The mission involves a lunar flyby without landing, culminating in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The launch, initially planned for February, was delayed due to hydrogen fuel leaks, but managers report the rocket is now in good condition, and the weather forecast is favorable. This mission marks a significant step in NASA's renewed focus on lunar exploration.

NASA has begun the countdown for the Artemis II mission, humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years. The Artemis II moon rocket is currently situated on Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission marks a significant step in lunar exploration since the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972. Preparations are underway, including software demonstrations and remote camera setups, to support the crew's lunar observations. The Artemis II mission aims to further scientific understanding of the moon and pave the way for future lunar endeavors.

NASA's Artemis II mission marks the return of humans to the moon after over half a century since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Artemis II mission, scheduled for the future, will not land on the moon or orbit it, but serves as a crucial step toward future lunar landings. The four-member crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (from Canada). The crew has been training for the mission at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis II mission utilizes NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft. This mission is a significant milestone in NASA's renewed focus on lunar exploration.