A Historic Journey Around the Moon
Emerging from behind the moon, the Artemis II astronauts directed their capsule back toward Earth on Monday night after witnessing views of the lunar far side that had never been seen before and setting a new distance record for humanity. This seven-hour flyby was the highlight of NASA’s first return to the moon since the Apollo era, with three Americans and one Canadian on board — a crucial step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.
One of the most significant achievements of the mission was surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13, which reached 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) in April 1970. The Artemis II crew broke this record during their lunar flyby, marking a major milestone in space exploration.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen expressed his awe during the mission, saying, “It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable.” He challenged future generations to ensure this record isn’t long-lived.
Honoring Memories and Naming New Craters
As the astronauts broke the record, they requested permission to name two fresh lunar craters they had observed. They proposed “Integrity,” the name of their capsule, and “Carroll” in honor of commander Reid Wiseman’s wife, who passed away from cancer in 2020. Wiseman was visibly emotional as Hansen made the request to Mission Control, and the four astronauts embraced in tears.
Wiseman later radioed, “Such a majestic view out here,” and began taking pictures. The astronauts also managed to capture both the moon and Earth in the same shot, providing a running commentary to scientists in Houston about what they were seeing.
Some of the peaks they observed were so bright that pilot Victor Glover noted they looked like they were covered in snow. In addition to using high-powered Nikon cameras, the astronauts also used their iPhones for some impromptu shots.
A Tribute to the Past
The mission started with a wake-up message from Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who recorded it just two months before his death last August. “Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said 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.”
The crew carried an Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon, and they showed it off as the crucial flyby approached. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” said Wiseman. “Let’s go have a great day.”
Navigating the Moon’s Gravity
Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its oxygen tank explosion. Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial figure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon on Monday evening.
During the 40-minute communication blackout, the crew made their closest approach to the moon — 4,067 miles (6,545 kilometers) — and reached their maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth. At that point, they were homeward bound, taking four days to get back with a Pacific splashdown concluding their test flight on Friday.
Their estimated speed at closest approach to the moon was 3,139 mph (5,052 kph).
Preparing for Future Missions
Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. Their science targets included the Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, and the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites from 1969 and 1971, respectively.
Other sightseeing goals included the fringes of the south polar region, the preferred locale for future touchdowns. Farther afield, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn — not to mention Earth — were visible. A total solar eclipse graced the sky as they rounded the moon and aimed for home, their lunar observations and photography still ongoing.
NASA geologist Kelsey Young expects thousands of pictures from the mission.
Looking Ahead to Future Missions
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.
While Artemis II may be following Apollo 13’s path, it is most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s first lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.
Pilot Victor Glover reflected on the significance of the mission during Christianity’s Holy Week, saying, “This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together.”
