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Artemis II Astronauts Propose Names for Two Unnamed Lunar Craters During Mission
Astronauts on the Artemis II mission observed lunar features during a flyover of the moon's far side on April 6. The crew proposed names for two unnamed craters: Integrity and Carroll. These observations included studies of craters, basins, and surface variations, contributing to lunar geography knowledge.
Apr 6, 7:15 PM·2m read1 source
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The Artemis II mission, involving a crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, conducted observations of the moon's surface on April 6. During the flyover of the far side, the astronauts relayed data on lunar geography to science officers on Earth. The mission marked the farthest distance from Earth achieved by humans.
The crew proposed names for two unnamed craters. The first, named Integrity, references the name of their capsule and is located between the Orientale basin and the Ohm crater on the far side. Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen described its position as relatively in the middle when drawing a line straight up from Orientale to Ohm.
The second crater, proposed as Carroll, honors the late wife of flight commander Reid Wiseman and mother of their daughters, Katie and Ellie, who died on May 17, 2020. Hansen noted it is positioned just on the near side of the boundary between the near and far sides. The feature is visible from Earth at certain times during the moon's transit and appears as a bright spot.
The astronauts studied specific lunar features, including the Orientale and Hertzsprung basins.
8-billion-year-old impact crater straddling the near and far sides, showed variations in color and light reflection from its topography and rings. Hertzsprung, a nearly 400-mile-wide crater on the far side, provides insights into the evolution of lunar features over geologic timescales.
The mission highlighted differences between low areas, known as mare—large, dark former lava flows—and higher elevations such as mountains, peaks, and ridges called mons.
The crew noted changes in color and light across these regions. These observations build on years of preparation by the astronauts to identify and describe lunar specifics.
than 9,100 features on the moon have been named, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center, which collaborates with the International Astronomical Union. Of these, 81 have been named by astronauts. At least 22 mare and 59 mons features are among the named ones.
