NASA Artemis II: Crew Returns After Historic Lunar Flyby

NASA’s Artemis II crew has begun their return journey to Earth after completing a historic lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The mission represents the first time humans have returned to the vicinity of the moon in more than 50 years, serving as a critical test flight for the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, traveled further from Earth than any previous human spaceflight mission. At 7:02 p.m. ET on April 6, the Orion spacecraft reached a peak distance of 252,756 miles from Earth.

This distance surpasses the record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 by 4,111 miles, as the Apollo 13 record stood at 248,655 statute miles.

Lunar Flyby and Scientific Observations

The mission reached its closest approach to the moon at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET on April 6, coming within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface. At this point, the spacecraft was traveling at 60,863 miles per hour relative to Earth, while its speed relative to the moon was 3,139 miles per hour.

During the seven-hour flyby of the lunar far side, the crew utilized a fleet of cameras to capture thousands of images. These photographs include documentation of surface fractures, ancient lava flows, and impact craters, which NASA officials state will provide scientists with data to study the geologic evolution of the moon.

The astronauts also witnessed several rare celestial events. At 7:24 p.m. ET on April 6, the crew observed an earthrise as Orion emerged from behind the moon. Later, at 8:35 p.m. ET, the crew entered a solar eclipse that lasted for approximately one hour.

During the eclipse, the crew studied the solar corona, which is the outermost atmosphere of the sun, as it appeared around the lunar edge. They also monitored the lunar surface for flashes of light caused by meteoroid strikes to gain insight into potential lunar hazards.

Our four Artemis II astronauts — Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy — took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come

Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

Technical Transition and Return Path

The Orion spacecraft remained within the lunar sphere of influence—the region where the moon’s gravity exerts more pull on the vehicle than Earth’s gravity—until April 7, 2026. According to NASA, the spacecraft officially exited this sphere of influence at approximately 1:25 p.m. ET on April 7, at a distance of 41,072 miles from the moon.

Following the completion of the lunar observation period at 9:35 p.m. ET on April 6, the crew transitioned to the return phase of the mission. As of April 7, the crew is more than halfway through their journey and is preparing for the final leg of the trip back to Earth.

The mission’s technical success is highlighted by the restoration of communications via the Deep Space Network immediately after the spacecraft emerged from behind the moon on April 6. The data and imagery collected during the flyby, including views of the moon backlit by the sun and the visibility of Mars and Saturn in the lunar vicinity, are now being transmitted to Earth for analysis.