Astronauts Set New Space Travel Distance Record
- Four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission have established a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.
- The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- The Artemis II mission is a crewed test flight designed to loop around the Moon.
Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have established a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth. On April 6, 2026, the crew surpassed the previous distance record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.
The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The record was officially broken at 12:56 p.m. CDT on April 6, as the Orion spacecraft reached a distance of 248,655 miles from Earth.
Mission Milestones and Lunar Flyby
The Artemis II mission is a crewed test flight designed to loop around the Moon. During the voyage, the Orion spacecraft reached a maximum distance of approximately 252,756 miles from Earth before beginning its return trajectory.
As part of the lunar flyby, the crew became the first humans to view certain portions of the far side of the Moon with the naked eye. NASA reported that the spacecraft’s closest approach to the lunar surface was 4,067 miles.
Six days into the mission, the astronauts continued to collect imagery of the Moon while traveling away from Earth. The mission also provided a unique astronomical opportunity; the crew observed a solar eclipse that was not visible from Earth. Because of the spacecraft’s proximity to the Moon, the period of totality lasted longer than it would have on Earth.
Historical Context and Legacy
The previous distance record was held by the crew of Apollo 13, which reached 248,655 miles in April 1970. To mark the occasion, Mission Control transmitted a recorded congratulatory message to the Artemis II crew from the late Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who recorded the message before his death in August 2025.
Jim Lovell
Hello, Artemis 2, this is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood
In his message, Lovell expressed pride in passing the torch to the Artemis II crew as they laid the groundwork for future missions to Mars.
Current Status
Following the lunar flyby and the achievement of the distance record on April 6, 2026, the Orion spacecraft has begun its journey back to Earth. The crew regained contact with mission control on Monday night after a planned loss of signal during their transit around the far side of the Moon.
Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, stated that the dedication of the four astronauts is intended to fuel hope for a bold future and chart new frontiers for humanity.