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Astronauts To Fly Around Moon After 50+ Years
6 Apr
Summary
- Artemis 2 mission is the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.
- The mission includes the first woman, first Black person, and first non-American to reach the Moon.
- Astronauts will experience a rare solar eclipse as they pass behind the Moon.
Astronauts are set to embark on a historic journey around the Moon on Monday, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over fifty years. The Artemis 2 mission represents a significant leap for human space exploration.
This mission will achieve several notable firsts, including sending the first woman, Christina Koch, the first Black person, Victor Glover, and the first non-American, Jeremy Hansen, towards the Moon. Previously, only white American men from the Apollo era had reached this celestial body between 1968 and 1972.
The Artemis 2 crew will also achieve a new distance record from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 mark. During the seven-hour flyby, they will pass behind the Moon, experiencing a communication blackout for about 40 minutes.
They will witness unique phenomena, including a solar eclipse where the Moon aligns with the Sun, offering a view of the solar corona. The astronauts are trained to observe and document lunar geology, potentially providing new insights into the Moon's history and the solar system.
The mission also aims to recreate the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph, offering a fresh perspective of our planet from lunar vicinity. NASA will broadcast the event live, though potential video quality issues due to the vast distance are noted.
