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Artemis II Crew Sends Easter Greetings and Conducts Activities During Approach to Moon
The four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission sent Easter messages to Earth on Sunday while preparing for a lunar flyby on Monday. They conducted tests of pressure suits and observed detailed lunar surface features from a distance of about 75,000 miles. The mission aims to test the Orion spacecraft and procedures for future lunar missions.
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NASA's Artemis II mission, crewed by four astronauts, continued its trajectory toward the moon on Sunday. The crew, consisting of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, transmitted Easter greetings to mission control.
This occurred as the Orion spacecraft approached within 76,362 nautical miles of the moon and 168,000 miles from Earth.
During the activities, the crew presented astronaut wings to Hansen, marking his first spaceflight. They then performed tests on the new Artemis pressure suits. Koch described the crew's Easter observance, noting that they had hidden dehydrated scrambled eggs around the cabin to simulate an egg hunt.
“This time of year is something that many religions and many cultures hold dear," Koch said. "It's a time of emotions such as joy, as well as solemnness, honoring what's going on both in our world and in our religious beliefs.”
Koch also shared a personal anecdote about family traditions on Earth, mentioning hiding confetti eggs in Houston. The mission's primary objectives include testing the Orion spacecraft's systems and developing procedures for guiding future crews to the moon. On Monday, the crew plans science observations during the pass behind the moon's far side.
Overnight Saturday, the crew shifted focus from distance to Earth to distance to the moon. From approximately 75,000 miles away, Koch reported that the moon's appearance differed from Earth-based views, with discernible topography and brightness variations. Glover observed a vast basin, initially identifying it as Mare Orientale but later confirmed by mission control as Mare Imbrium.
