NASA's Artemis II crew just flew farther away from Earth than anyone ever has before
NASA's Artemis II crew just set a new distance record in miles traveled away from Earth. The team of four astronauts are in the process of circling the Moon , reaching 5,000 miles beyond the natural satellite. That brings the total distance traveled away from our home to over 250,000 miles. Gene Roddenberry would be proud. This broke the previous 1970 record set by Apollo 13's crew by around 4,000 miles. The four astronauts тАУ Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of NASA and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency тАУ are the first humans to cross the lunar threshold since 1972's Apollo 17 mission. "We challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived," Commander Reid Wiseman said upon crossing the distance threshold. He also suggested that NASA name a lunar crater after the craft itself. The astronauts aren't landing on the lunar surface, but are conducting a lengthy flyby that should provide clear images of the Moon's far side "that have never been seen" by humans. These areas were too difficult to clearly see by the various Apollo crew members. They'll also get a peek at a solar eclipse, though the crew will be out of contact with mission control for around 40 minutes. "WeтАЩll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force," NASA flight director, Judd Frieling, said. Astronaut Christina Koch has called today's record an important milestone "that people
NASA's Artemis II crew has just achieved a historic milestone, setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans. The team of four astronauts, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch from NASA and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, have circled the Moon and reached 5,000 miles beyond our natural satellite. This remarkable feat brings the total distance traveled away from Earth to over 250,000 miles, surpassing the previous record set by Apollo 13's crew in 1970 by approximately 4,000 miles.
The Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have crossed the lunar threshold since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Commander Reid Wiseman expressed his ambition for this achievement to inspire future generations, stating, "We challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived." He also suggested that NASA consider naming a lunar crater after the spacecraft itself, a fitting tribute to this historic journey.
While the astronauts are not landing on the Moon, their lengthy flyby offers a unique opportunity to capture clear images of the Moon's far side, which has remained obscured from human view due to the challenges faced by previous Apollo crews. This unprecedented view will provide valuable data and insights into the lunar surface, paving the way for future crewed missions to the Moon.
In addition to exploring the lunar far side, the crew will also witness a solar eclipse. However, they will be out of contact with mission control for around 40 minutes as they navigate through this celestial event. NASA flight director Judd Frieling highlighted the significance of this mission, saying, "WeтАЩll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force."
Astronaut Christina Koch described the record as an important milestone that "people can understand and wrap their heads around." The mapping data collected during this mission will be crucial for planning future crewed missions to the lunar surface. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that the crew has been training for this moment for nearly four years, and their efforts will contribute to the agency's ambitious plans for lunar exploration.
The Orion capsule, carrying the Artemis II crew, is now on its way back to Earth, with a scheduled return in approximately four days. As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, this historic mission serves as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge in the cosmos. The Artemis II crew's achievement not only breaks records but also opens new frontiers for space travel, inspiring future generations to dream beyond the horizon.
