The Artemis II astronauts will set a new distance record from Earth today

On April 15th, 1970, the crew of Apollo 13—Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert—set a distance record from Earth as they traveled 248,655 miles away from our planet. Nearly five and a half decades later, the crew of Artemis II is poised to break that historic record by several thousand miles. As the Orion spacecraft completes its journey around the far side of the Moon, it is expected to reach a maximum distance of 252,757 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous milestone.

The Artemis II mission, a critical step in NASA's Artemis program, aims to revive the U.S.'s human spaceflight capabilities and pave the way for future lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars. The spacecraft, carrying a crew of four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Josh Cassada, and Mission Specialist Steve Bowen—embarked on its lunar flyby on November 16, 2022. The mission's primary objective is to test the Orion spacecraft's capabilities in deep space, evaluate the crew's performance during the journey, and gather critical data on the spacecraft's systems.

Today, as the Orion spacecraft continues its journey around the Moon, the crew is expected to set a new distance record from Earth at 1:56 PM ET. This achievement marks a significant milestone in space exploration, not only surpassing the Apollo 13 record but also demonstrating the advancements in space technology and the dedication of the astronauts involved in this mission.

NASA's coverage of the lunar flyby began at 1 PM ET, offering a live update of the mission's progress and the crew's activities aboard the Orion spacecraft. The astronauts have been documenting their experiences and conducting experiments during the flight, including studying the effects of microgravity on plant growth and monitoring the crew's health and well-being.

The trip around the far side of the Moon, a challenging maneuver that requires precise navigation, will take approximately six hours. As the Orion spacecraft completes this leg of its journey, the crew will be able to marvel at the vast expanse of space and the beauty of Earth from afar. This opportunity to view our planet from such a distance serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of space exploration and the need to protect and preserve our home.

The Artemis II mission's success today not only highlights the achievements of the current crew but also honors the legacy of the Apollo 13 astronauts who set the original distance record. Their bravery and determination during the infamous Apollo 13 mission, which was ultimately aborted due to an oxygen tank explosion, have inspired generations of space explorers.

As the Artemis II crew breaks the distance record, it underscores the continuous advancements in space technology and the relentless pursuit of human exploration. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of NASA and its partners, as well as the visionary goals of the Artemis program. With this new record in place, the stage is set for future missions to push the boundaries of what is possible in space and inspire a new era of discovery and innovation.