Home / Science / Artemis II Breaks Lunar Distance Record
Artemis II Breaks Lunar Distance Record
5 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II astronauts aim to surpass Apollo 13's record distance.
- The mission includes a flyby with views of the moon's far side.
- Astronauts will witness a total solar eclipse from lunar orbit.
The Artemis II mission is pushing the boundaries of lunar exploration, with its crew striving to set a new distance record from Earth, surpassing the 248,655 miles achieved by Apollo 13 in 1970. Launched on April 1, 2026, the mission involves a figure-eight trajectory around the moon, which will take the astronauts approximately 4,000 miles farther than their predecessors.
During their lunar flyby, the astronauts will capture detailed images of the moon's far side, including parts never before seen by humans, and will witness a rare total solar eclipse. This celestial event will allow them to observe the sun's corona from a unique perspective. The mission is scheduled for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026.
The crew will communicate with the International Space Station during their return journey, a historic first for a moon mission. This connection will include a conversation with astronauts from the 2019 all-female spacewalk, merging past and present achievements in space exploration. The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards establishing a permanent human presence on the moon.
