NASA Artemis II Astronauts Conduct Lunar Flyby and Share Detailed Observations

NASA's Artemis II mission achieved a significant milestone with a lunar flyby on Monday. The four-person crew orbited the moon, marking the first human spaceflight to approach the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. This test flight for the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft lasted approximately 10 days.

The astronauts reported viewing areas of the moon not previously seen by humans. They provided intricate details of the lunar terrain to ground control. The flyby occurred at a closest approach of about 80 miles from the lunar surface.

The crew consisted of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

They launched on November 16, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the flyby, the astronauts conducted scientific observations and tested spacecraft systems. Personal smartphones were permitted aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The iPhones allowed the crew to capture images and notes, though no internet connectivity was available. This marked the first use of commercial smartphones on a deep-space mission.

The astronauts' descriptions focused on lunar craters, surface features, and geological formations.

Ground teams received real-time data transmissions from the spacecraft. No samples were collected, as the mission prioritized testing over exploration. The Orion capsule entered a distant retrograde orbit around the moon before looping back toward Earth.

Splashdown is scheduled for November 25, 2024, in the Pacific Ocean. The mission supports NASA's plans for future lunar landings under the Artemis program.