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 achieved a historic milestone by traveling farther away from Earth than any humans have before. The team of four astronautsтАФReid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space AgencyтАФset a new distance record in miles traveled from our home planet. As they circle the Moon, they reached 5,000 miles beyond the natural satellite, bringing the total distance traveled to over 250,000 miles. This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record set by Apollo 13's crew in 1970 by approximately 4,000 miles.
Commander Reid Wiseman and his crewmates are the first humans to cross the lunar threshold since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Upon reaching this significant distance, Wiseman challenged the current and future generations to ensure this record does not stand long. He also proposed that NASA name a lunar crater after the spacecraft itself, a fitting tribute to their achievement.
While the astronauts are not landing on the Moon's surface, their lengthy flyby offers a unique opportunity to capture clear images of the Moon's far side, which has never been seen by humans before. Previous Apollo missions struggled to obtain clear views of these areas due to their challenging visibility. Additionally, the crew will witness a solar eclipse, though they will be out of contact with mission control for about 40 minutes during this event.
NASA flight director Judd Frieling highlighted the importance of this mission, stating, "WeтАЩll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force." The mapping data collected will be crucial for planning future crewed missions to the lunar surface. Astronaut Christina Koch described the record as an important milestone that "people can understand and wrap their heads around."
The Orion capsule, carrying the crew, is now on its way back to Earth, with a scheduled return in approximately four days. NASA is planning for a safe re-entry and landing, marking the end of this historic journey. The Artemis II mission not only breaks records but also paves the way for future exploration and understanding of our celestial neighbor, the Moon. As the crew completes their mission, the world celebrates this remarkable achievement, inspired by the vision of Gene Roddenberry and the dedication of the astronauts who have pushed the boundaries of human exploration.
