Introduction
Launched last week, the Artemis II mission marks humanity’s first return to the Moon since 1972. On board are three American astronauts and one Canadian. As they swing around the Moon on Monday without landing, they are poised to surpass a decades‑old record: the farthest distance from Earth ever achieved by human beings.
The Record: Apollo 13’s “Successful Failure”
The current record belongs to Apollo 13. In 1970, an oxygen tank ruptured en route to the Moon, forcing the crew to abandon their landing plans. With their lives at risk, mission control switched to a free‑return lunar trajectory – a route that uses the gravity of Earth and the Moon with minimal fuel. That decision brought Commander Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert back safely, reaching a maximum distance of 248,655 miles (approximately 400,171 kilometres) from Earth before turning homeward. Although the mission failed to land, NASA has long called it a “successful failure.” (Notably, the famous phrase “Failure is not an option” was never spoken by flight director Gene Kranz; it originated from the 1995 film Apollo 13.)
How Artemis II Will Go Farther
Artemis II is following a similar figure‑eight trajectory because, like Apollo 13, it will neither orbit the Moon nor land on it. However, its distance from Earth is expected to exceed Apollo 13’s record by roughly 4,000 miles (about 6,400 kilometres). Astronaut Christina Koch said late last week that while she and her crewmates do not dwell on superlatives, this milestone matters because it helps people connect the past, present, and future of lunar exploration.
A Closer Look at the Lunar Flyby
The crew’s flyby will last approximately six hours. During that time, they will split into pairs to take turns photographing the lunar surface through the capsule’s windows. Because the launch took place on April 1, the illumination of the far side of the Moon is not ideal – less of it will be lit compared to other possible launch dates. Nevertheless, NASA geologist Kelsey Young stated that the astronauts will still be able to see “definite chunks of the far side that have never been seen” by humans, including a significant portion of the Orientale Basin.
The astronauts have prepared for months using lunar geography flashcards. They will describe their observations as they capture images of the grey, cratered terrain. On board is a set of professional cameras, as well as an iPhone for each crew member to take more casual, spontaneous pictures.
A Total Solar Eclipse from the Spacecraft
One advantage of the April 1 launch date is a total solar eclipse. This eclipse will not be visible from Earth – only from the Orion capsule. The event will offer the astronauts several minutes of viewing the Sun’s outermost atmosphere, known as the corona. Young noted that the crew will be on alert for any unusual solar activity and will use their unique vantage point to describe the corona’s features. All four astronauts have packed eclipse glasses to protect their eyes.
Brief Communication Blackout
When Orion passes behind the Moon, it will lose direct contact with Mission Control for nearly an hour – approximately 40 minutes. The same blackouts occurred during the Apollo missions. NASA relies on its Deep Space Network, with giant antennas in California, Spain, and Australia, but none will have a line of sight while the Moon blocks the signal. Flight director Judd Frieling acknowledged that these blackouts are tense moments, but as he put it, “physics takes over and physics will absolutely get us back to the front side of the Moon.”
The Journey Home and a Historic Conversation
After departing the lunar neighbourhood, Artemis II will take four days to return to Earth. Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego is scheduled for April 10 – nine days after the Florida launch.
During the return flight, the astronauts will establish a radio link with the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This marks the first time a Moon crew and an ISS crew have been in space simultaneously, and NASA has decided to seize the opportunity for a conversation in orbit. Notably, the exchange will include two participants in the first all‑female spacewalk in 2019: Christina Koch aboard Orion and Jessica Meir on the space station.