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NASA's Artemis II Mission Begins Final Lunar Flyby After 50 Years
The Artemis II mission commenced its lunar flyby on Monday, marking the first crewed lunar orbit by NASA since Apollo 8 in 1968. The four astronauts will conduct visual observations of lunar sites as part of a 10-objective plan. Netflix and NASA are providing live coverage starting at 10 a.m. PT.
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mission entered its final lunar flyby phase on Monday, setting a new distance record from Earth at approximately 240,000 miles. The spacecraft, carrying four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen—will pass within 60 miles of the Moon's surface.
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This flyby, lasting several hours, repeats the crewed lunar orbit achieved more than 50 years ago during Apollo 8 in December 1968. The crew consists of three NASA astronauts and one from the Canadian Space Agency. The mission launched on September 6, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.
During the flyby, the astronauts will use visual observation to study specific lunar sites and phenomena, fulfilling one of NASA's 10 scientific goals for the mission.
The 10-goal plan includes detailed examinations of lunar craters, geological features, and atmospheric interactions, all conducted using the astronauts' direct observations without advanced instrumentation during this phase. NASA emphasizes that these activities build foundational data for future Artemis missions, including crewed landings planned for Artemis III in 2026.
m. m. PT on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. The flyby provides opportunities for high-resolution imaging of the Moon's far side, which remains largely uncharted from human perspectives. This mission tests Orion's systems for deep space travel, including life support, navigation, and re-entry capabilities.
The spacecraft is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on October 5, 2024, concluding a 10-day mission.
II represents NASA's return to crewed lunar exploration under the Artemis program, aimed at establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon by the end of the decade. Unlike Apollo-era missions, Artemis focuses on international collaboration, with contributions from agencies in Canada, Europe, and Japan.
