Artemis II prepares to break Apollo 13's distance record during moon flyby

Artemis II launched last week on NASA's first crewed trip toward the moon since 1972 and is on course to exceed Apollo 13's maximum distance from Earth during a roughly six-hour lunar flyby.

Artemis II launched last week on NASA's first crewed trip toward the moon since 1972. The four-person crew is following a figure-eight free-return path and will swing around the moon without landing. During the roughly six-hour lunar flyby they are expected to exceed Apollo 13's maximum distance from Earth by about 4,000 miles. The pass will offer views of parts of the moon's far side and a total solar eclipse that will be visible only from the Orion capsule. Key facts: - The crew consists of three Americans and one Canadian flying aboard Orion on a free-return trajectory. - Apollo 13 reached about 248,655 miles from Earth; Artemis II is expected to surpass that distance by roughly 4,000 miles. - The lunar flyby will last about six hours and will give astronauts views of far-side features including portions of the Orientale Basin. - A total solar eclipse will occur during the pass; the crew plans to observe the sun's corona and watch for solar activity. - Orion will be out of contact with Mission Control for about 40 minutes while behind the moon; NASA is using the Deep Space Network for communications. - After departing the lunar neighborhood, Orion will take about four days to return and is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific near San Diego on April 10, nine days after launch. Summary: The flyby will establish a new distance mark and provide direct observations of the lunar far side and the solar corona during an eclipse. Orion will be briefly out of contact while behind the moon, then begin a four-day return to Earth with a planned Pacific splashdown on April 10. The crew will relay observations during the pass and will make a radio contact with the International Space Station during the return.