A Historic Lunar Flyby
With the Moon now filling their windows, the Artemis II astronauts began their lunar flyby on Monday, taking in breathtaking views of the far side never before seen while setting a new distance record for humanity. This six-hour flyby is the highlight of NASA’s first return to the Moon since the Apollo era, featuring three Americans and one Canadian—marking a significant step toward landing boot prints near the Moon’s south pole in just two years.
Breaking Records and Setting New Goals
First came a prize—and bragging rights—for Artemis II. Less than an hour before starting the fly-around and intense lunar observations, the four astronauts surpassed the distance record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) set by Apollo 13 in April 1970. They kept going, hurtling ever farther from Earth. Before it was all over, Mission Control expected Artemis II to beat the old record by more than 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers).
“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now… It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed ahead of the flyby. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”
Honoring Memories and Capturing Moments
Moments after breaking Apollo 13’s record, the astronauts asked permission to name two fresh lunar craters already observed. They proposed Integrity, their capsule’s name, and Carroll in honor of Commander Reid Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020. Commander Wiseman wept as Mr. Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.
“Such a majestic view out here,” Commander Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the Moon and Earth in the same shot, and provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.
A Message from the Past
The astronauts woke up to the voice of Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who recorded the message just two months before his death last August. “Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Mr. Lovell, who also flew on Apollo 8, humanity’s first lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.” They took up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Mr. Lovell to the Moon, and showed it off as the crucial flyby approached.
“It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” said Commander Wiseman. “Let’s go have a great day.”
Navigating the Lunar Trajectory
Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing. Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stopping-to-land route takes advantage of Earth and the Moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It is a celestial figure-eight that will put the astronauts on course for home, once they emerge from behind the Moon on Monday evening.
Commander Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen were on track to pass as close as 4,070 miles (6,550 kilometers) to the Moon, as their Orion capsule whips past it, hangs a U-turn, and then heads back toward Earth.
Returning Home and Looking Ahead
It will take them four days to get back, with a splashdown in the Pacific concluding their test flight on Friday. Their expected speed at closest approach to the Moon is 3,139 mph (5,052 kph). Artemis II is NASA’s first astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the Moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.
