For the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, humans have once again journeyed to the Moon. On April 6th, the four-person crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully executed a circumlunar flight, venturing further from Earth than any humans in history.
As they surpassed the previous distance record of 400,171 kilometers, established by the Apollo 13 crew, mission commander Reid Wiseman emphasized the significance of this achievement. “We most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived,” he stated during the NASA livestream. The Artemis astronauts also proposed two names for newly identified lunar craters: “Integrity,” in honor of the Orion capsule that carried them, and “Carroll,” named after Wiseman’s late wife.
Throughout the flyby, the astronauts alternated between observing and photographing the lunar landscape from the spacecraft’s windows and remaining in the Orion capsule to maintain communication with mission control in Houston, Texas. The crew comprises NASA astronauts Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
A unique phenomenon occurred as the capsule orbited behind the Moon: the Sun appeared smaller than the Moon in the sky, creating a solar eclipse distinct from any observable on Earth. Similar to how one would prepare for a typical solar eclipse, the astronauts donned darkened eclipse glasses to view the Sun and meticulously documented its outermost layer, the corona. This advantageous vantage point, free from atmospheric distortion, potentially allowed them to discern details difficult to observe from the ground.
Beyond celestial observations, the astronauts gathered extensive data on the Moon’s surface. They consistently highlighted the unexpected variety of colors present, which deviate from the familiar grey appearance seen from Earth. Close-up views revealed areas exhibiting green, brown, and even orange hues, attributed to variations in the chemical composition of the lunar rocks and dust. “It’s amazing how quickly it changes as we speed around the far side of the moon,” noted Hansen, reflecting the dynamic visual experience.
The lunar orbit provided the crew the opportunity to view regions of the Moon that had never been directly observed by human eyes before. A significant portion of their mission involved studying the terminator, the twilight zone separating lunar day and night. This region, characterized by prominent shadows, accentuates the Moon’s terrain with striking contrast. Glover described the terminator as a profoundly enchanting area, remarking, “There is just so much magic in the terminator – the islands of light, the valleys that look like black holes [where] you’d fall straight to the centre of the moon if you stepped in some of those, it’s just so visually captivating.”
Observing the lunar topography at such close proximity also prompted reflections on the experience of walking on the Moon’s surface. Koch remarked on the Moon’s distinct identity, stating, “The truth is, the moon really is its own body in the universe – it’s not just a poster in the sky that goes by, it is a real place.”
At its nearest point, the Orion capsule came within approximately 6,545 kilometers of the lunar surface. This marked the closest humans would approach the Moon until the planned Artemis IV mission in 2028, which is scheduled to include a lunar landing.
With the lunar circuit complete, the Orion capsule has commenced its return journey to Earth. The astronauts are expected to land and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on April 10th. Following their return, the comprehensive analysis of their collected data, photographs, and scientific observations will commence, paving the way for the continued progression of the Artemis program.