NASA’s Artemis II crew has set a new distance record, traveling 5,000 miles beyond the Moon, surpassing the previous Apollo 13 record established in 1970 by approximately 4,000 miles.
The total distance now exceeds 250,000 miles away from Earth. This mission marks the first time humans have crossed the lunar threshold since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The Artemis II crew consists of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Commander Reid Wiseman challenged future generations to surpass their record and proposed naming a lunar crater after their craft.
The crew is conducting a flyby of the Moon, capturing high-resolution images of the far side that have never been seen before due to visibility challenges faced by past missions. They will also observe a solar eclipse during which they will experience a 40-minute communication blackout with mission control.
NASA flight director Judd Frieling stated, “We’ll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force.” Astronaut Christina Koch emphasized the significance of the milestone, describing it as a point of public understanding for space exploration.
The astronauts are equipped with various cameras to collect essential mapping data for future lunar missions. According to NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, the crew has trained for this mission for nearly four years.
The Orion capsule is currently returning to Earth, with a splashdown planned in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 10, nine days after launch. Astronaut Victor Glover also delivered an Easter message, describing Earth as an “oasis” and highlighting the uniqueness of humanity in the cosmos.
