Artemis II approaches record distance from Earth and views the moon's far side

Artemis II is expected to surpass Apollo 13's distance record by about 4,100 miles during a six-hour flyby that will let the crew observe the moon's far side and features such as the Orientale Basin.

Artemis II is conducting a six-hour flyby of the moon's far side as part of NASA's first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era. The crew of four includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. Mission Control expected the flight to exceed Apollo 13's 1970 distance record by more than 4,100 miles. The mission follows a free-return lunar trajectory that keeps the Orion capsule on a figure-eight path and positions the crew to return to Earth. Key facts: - Artemis II is expected to exceed Apollo 13's distance record of 248,655 miles by more than 4,100 miles. - The crew will perform a roughly six-hour flyby of the moon's far side and pass as close as 4,070 miles to the lunar surface. - Their expected speed at closest approach is about 3,139 mph. - The mission uses a free-return trajectory, a gravity-assisted figure-eight route that reduces fuel needs and sets a course back to Earth. - Observation targets include the Orientale Basin, the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites, fringes of the south polar region, and views of other planets and Earth. Summary: Artemis II's planned flyby will briefly make its crew the most distant humans on record and provide extensive photographic and observational data of the moon's far side, including the Orientale Basin. The mission is scheduled to return to Earth in about four days with a Pacific splashdown concluding the test flight. It serves as a preparatory step for Artemis III next year and the planned lunar landing on Artemis IV in 2028.