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Artemis II Crew Achieves Lunar Milestone, Sets New Distance Record
8 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II crew completed a journey to the far side of the moon.
- They set a new record for the farthest human distance traveled.
- Artemis II astronauts communicated with the ISS crew.
The Artemis II astronauts are now en route back to Earth, having recently completed a trajectory behind the moon. This mission marked a significant achievement as the crew traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a maximum distance of approximately 252,760 miles.
During their lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew achieved a close approach of roughly 4,070 miles to the lunar surface. A notable event during their mission was the first-ever audio call between a deep space crew and the International Space Station.
Artemis II crew member Christina Koch highlighted how her previous training on the ISS proved invaluable for the current mission, emphasizing practical skills learned. The call included seven astronauts from the ISS, comprising three NASA astronauts, three Russian cosmonauts, and one European Space Agency astronaut. Koch also shared a personal moment with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, a close friend with whom she previously conducted an all-women spacewalk.
