The crew surpasses Apollo 13's historic distance record as they orbit the Moon and prepare for future lunar missions.
Category: Science
On April 6, 2026, the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission made history by becoming the farthest humans from Earth during a lunar flyby, shattering the previous record set by Apollo 13 over 55 years ago. This momentous occasion marks a new milestone in human spaceflight and highlights NASA's commitment to returning to the Moon, with plans for a landing near the lunar south pole in just two years.
The Artemis II crew, consisting of three Americans — Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover — along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, surpassed the Apollo 13 distance record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) by more than 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers). As they approached their maximum distance of 252,760 miles, expected just after 7 p.m. ET, the astronauts shared their excitement and awe at the views from their vantage point.
"It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable," Hansen remarked in a radio transmission prior to the flyby. The six-hour lunar flyby is a key part of NASA's first return to the Moon since the Apollo era, and it promises to deliver breathtaking views of the Moon's far side, which have never before been witnessed by humans.
As the crew prepared for their historic flyby, they took a moment to honor the legacy of Apollo 13. Wiseman, the mission commander, received a wake-up message from Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, who passed away in 2015. Lovell's message, recorded shortly before his death, welcomed the Artemis II crew to his "old neighborhood" and encouraged them to enjoy the view as they embarked on their mission.
In a poignant moment, Wiseman named a lunar crater "Carroll," in honor of his late wife, who succumbed to cancer in 2020. The crew also proposed naming another crater "Integrity," after their capsule. This emotional gesture underscored the personal stakes involved in space exploration, as the astronauts embraced each other in tears after making the request to Mission Control.
The Artemis II mission employs a free-return lunar orbit, a maneuver also utilized by Apollo 13 after its oxygen tank explosion, which thwarted a planned moon landing. This route takes advantage of the gravitational pull of both Earth and the Moon, allowing the spacecraft to return home without requiring additional fuel. The Orion capsule is set to pass within 4,070 miles (6,550 kilometers) of the Moon, reaching speeds of 3,139 mph (5,052 kph) during the flyby.
In preparation for the lunar observations, the crew spent years studying lunar geography, and they have plans to capture thousands of images of the Moon's surface. Their objectives include photographing the Orientale Basin, an expansive impact site with three concentric rings, as well as the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites from 1969 and 1971. The crew is also ahead to witnessing a solar eclipse, with the Moon blocking the Sun from their perspective.
NASA geologist Kelsey Young, who has been mentoring the astronauts, expressed the universal connection people have with the Moon. "People all over the world connect with the moon. This is something that every single person on this planet can understand and connect with," she said, wearing eclipse-themed earrings as the crew prepared for the flyby.
Artemis II is a precursor to the Artemis III mission, which is scheduled for next year and will involve another Orion crew practicing docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The ultimate goal is to achieve a moon landing by two astronauts near the Moon's south pole during the Artemis IV mission in 2028.
As the astronauts began their seven-hour lunar orbit and observation period, they were aware that they would soon enter a 40-minute radio blackout as they passed behind the Moon. This blackout will occur at 6:44 p.m. ET, during which time they will be unable to communicate with Mission Control.
In a nod to the iconic Apollo missions, the Artemis II crew plans to capture a new version of the famous "Earthrise" photograph, which depicts Earth rising above the lunar horizon. This image, taken by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968, has become one of the most celebrated photographs in history, symbolizing humanity's fragile existence in the vastness of space.
As they navigate the cosmos, the Artemis II astronauts are pushing the boundaries of human exploration and reminding us of our shared humanity. Glover eloquently captured this sentiment during a recent interview, stating, "This is an opportunity for us to realize where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we've got to get through this together." His words resonate as the crew embarks on this historic mission, representing a collective endeavor that transcends borders and unites humanity in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration.
As the Artemis II mission continues, the world watches with bated breath, eager to see what discoveries lie ahead. With each passing moment, the crew inches closer to new horizons, paving the way for future generations of explorers to follow in their footsteps.