Artemis II Lunar Flyby: Earth Photos and Mission Updates

NASA’s Artemis II mission is currently executing a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission to the vicinity of the Moon in over 50 years. The mission serves as a critical crewed test flight for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and the Exploration Ground Systems.

The spacecraft launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center. The four-member crew consists of NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

Lunar Flyby and Mission Objectives

On April 6, 2026, the crew entered the lunar sphere of influence. A seven-hour flyby was scheduled to begin around 1:30 p.m. ET on that date. During this maneuver, the Orion spacecraft is expected to travel behind the moon, resulting in a loss of contact with mission control for nearly one hour.

As the crew passes the far side of the moon, they are projected to surpass the previous record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans, which was set by the Apollo 13 mission at 248,655 statute miles. The mission parameters indicate a maximum distance of 270,000 miles from Earth.

The primary technical objective of Artemis II is to validate the Orion spacecraft’s systems to ensure they can support astronauts during deep-space exploration. NASA researchers are also utilizing the mission to evaluate how deep space travel impacts the human body, mind, and behavior to establish protocols for future long-term missions.

Technical Specifications and Flight Path

The mission utilizes a free-return trajectory, a flight path that allows the spacecraft to return to Earth using gravity if the propulsion systems fail. Following a successful Perigee Raise Burn at T+15H 40M on April 1, the crew completed a Go poll for Trans-Lunar Injection on April 2 at 7:50 PM EDT.

The hardware involved in the mission includes the SLS rocket, which provides 8.8 million pounds of liftoff thrust. The combined vehicle mass is 5.75 million pounds. Upon completion of the lunar flyby, Orion will return to Earth at a reentry speed of 25,000 mph.

Crew Activities and Milestones

Throughout the 10-day mission, the crew has been tasked with taking photos and making observations from the Orion spacecraft. The mission includes a planned observation of a solar eclipse as they navigate the lunar environment.

The mission has also achieved several historic milestones for crew representation:

• Christina Koch is the first woman to travel to the vicinity of the Moon.
• Victor Glover is the first person of color to travel beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Jeremy Hansen is the first non-US citizen to travel beyond LEO.

Alongside these milestones, the crew has been testing key systems and sharing photographs of Earth. Reports indicate the crew has also spent time attempting to resolve issues with the spacecraft’s toilet.

Conclusion of the Mission

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude on April 10, 2026. The mission will end with the Orion spacecraft’s reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, followed by a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

This mission serves as a foundational step for NASA’s long-term goal of returning humans to the lunar surface and eventually conducting crewed missions to Mars.