science
Artemis II Mission Astronauts Set to Surpass Apollo 13 Distance Record During Lunar Flyby
NASA's Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, involves four astronauts conducting a crewed lunar flyby to exceed the Apollo 13 distance record from Earth. The crew will observe the moon's far side and experience a total solar eclipse visible only from their spacecraft. The mission returns to Earth on April 10 after nine days in space.
Apr 5, 10:38 AM·2m read3 sources
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NASA's Artemis II mission launched on April 1 from Florida with a crew of three Americans and one Canadian: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. The spacecraft, Orion, follows a free-return trajectory that will take it around the moon without landing or orbiting.
The mission aims to surpass the maximum distance from Earth achieved by Apollo 13 in 1970, reaching approximately 252,655 miles (406,571 kilometers), or about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) farther.
Apollo 13's crew—commander Jim Lovell, lunar module pilot Fred Haise, and command module pilot Jack Swigert—reached 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) from Earth after an oxygen tank rupture prevented their planned moon landing. Mission Control redirected the spacecraft using a free-return lunar trajectory, relying on Earth and moon gravity with minimal fuel, which safely returned the crew.
This path, NASA's "successful failure," is replicated by Artemis II for efficiency.
During the lunar flyby on April 6, the astronauts will take turns observing and photographing the moon's far side, including portions of the Orientale Basin never directly viewed by humans. The launch date limits illumination, but the crew expects to identify distinct geological features.
NASA geologist Kelsey Young prepared lunar geography flashcards for the astronauts, who have trained with visualizations for months.
The flyby includes a total solar eclipse visible only from Orion, lasting several minutes and revealing the sun's corona. The astronauts will monitor solar activity and describe coronal features using eclipse glasses for eye protection. This vantage point is unique, as the eclipse is not observable from Earth.
