NASA's Artemis II Mission Completes Lunar Flyby with Record Distance and New Images

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Eastern time while traveling around the Moon's far side, the first such journey since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA released images captured by the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, including views of Earth setting behind the Moon and the Moon eclipsing the Sun. These photographs provide detailed documentation of the Moon's far side, captured from approximately 7,000 kilometers away.

The images were taken using cameras and iPhones carried by the astronauts, though the devices could not connect to the internet.

During the flyby, the crew observed numerous craters on the Moon's surface, some dating back about 4 billion years from asteroid impacts shared with Earth.

They proposed naming two craters on the far side: one after the Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity, and another for Carroll Wiseman, the late wife of commander Reid Wiseman, who died in 2020 after a five-year illness. This naming occurred during an emotional exchange with mission control in Houston and the family.

“— Jeremy Hansen, during livestream from Orion, April 2026 (The Atlantic)”

The mission marked the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth. President Trump called the astronauts to congratulate them on the achievement, referencing the program's origins in his first term.

The astronauts experienced a quiet day en route back to Earth, focusing on rest after the intense flyby. They shared updates with mission control and a public livestream, expressing observations of the lunar landscape. Families of the crew, including those in Houston, supported the mission from assignment through completion.

The Artemis II flight sets the stage for future manned lunar landings under the Artemis program, aimed at establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon and preparing for Mars missions. The crew is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 13, 2026.