Artemis II Astronauts Complete 400,000-Km Moon Flyby, Becoming First to View Far Side Directly
Updated
Updated · dongascience.com · May 7
Artemis II Astronauts Complete 400,000-Km Moon Flyby, Becoming First to View Far Side Directly
9 articles · Updated · dongascience.com · May 7
Four Artemis II astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific off San Diego on April 10 after a 400,000-kilometer Orion mission around the Moon.
The crew became the first humans to see parts of the Moon’s far side with the naked eye, observing mountain ranges and cliffs during the historic flyby.
NASA’s Space Launch System sent Orion toward the Moon with twin boosters that each produced more thrust than 14 large four-engine passenger jets and burned for about two minutes before separation.
The mission also delivered a nearly hour-long total solar eclipse, capping a landmark crewed lunar flight highlighted in Nature’s April best science images.
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Artemis II’s Historic Lunar Flyby: Technical Triumphs, Scientific Discoveries, and the Next Steps Toward Mars
Overview
Artemis II marked NASA’s historic return to the Moon, becoming the first astronaut mission beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17. Echoing the legacy of Apollo 8, Artemis II re-established human presence in deep space and set the stage for future lunar missions. The human crew played a vital role, demonstrating that astronauts can observe and compare lunar features more effectively than robotic instruments. This mission not only provided invaluable scientific insights but also laid the groundwork for upcoming Artemis missions, inspiring a new era of exploration and advancing humanity’s journey toward the Moon and beyond.