NASA’s Artemis II crew has reached a historic milestone as they enter the Moon’s “sphere of influence,” meaning lunar gravity now exerts a stronger pull on their spacecraft than Earth’s. This crucial step brings the mission closer to pushing human spaceflight farther than ever before.
The transition occurred approximately 39,000 miles (62,800 km) from the Moon, and 232,000 miles (373,400 km) from Earth, after four days and six hours in space. Next, the astronauts will perform a flyby of the Moon’s far side, a feat that no human has attempted in more than 50 years, according to the Guardian reports.
Lori Glaze, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development, said the team is excited for the upcoming milestone and that both the flight crew and scientists are fully ready to carry out the first lunar flyby in over 50 years.
As opposed to Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s, which flew roughly 70 miles above the lunar surface, Artemis II will approach within about 4,000 miles. As a result, the crew will have an unprecedented view of the Moon’s full, spherical shape, including its polar regions.
During the six-hour flyby, the astronauts will observe the Moon with both their naked eyes and onboard cameras, capturing details of the far side that were previously invisible to human eyes. Meanwhile, when Orion passes behind the Moon, communication with NASA’s Deep Space Network will pause for roughly 40 minutes, because the lunar surface blocks radio signals.
Lead scientist Kelsey Young stressed the mission’s unpredictability, saying that the crew’s observations are impossible to fully anticipate, making this journey all the more thrilling.
The crew, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover of the U.S., along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, are on track to set a record for the farthest humans from Earth. Earlier, NASA released images showing the Moon and the Orientale Basin, a massive crater often called the Moon’s “Grand Canyon,” in unprecedented detail.
By the fifth day of their ten-day mission, Orion was approximately 215,000 miles (346,000 km) from Earth and 65,000 miles from the Moon. Adding to the inspiration, former Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke, who walked on the Moon in 1972, gave the ceremonial wakeup call, sharing a photo of his family and sending encouragement to the crew.
NASA also confirmed that astronauts have been testing manual piloting procedures, reviewing their lunar flyby plan, and checking the spacecraft’s life support systems. In addition, the bright orange “survival” suits, designed for takeoff, re-entry, and emergencies, were tested to ensure crew readiness.
Although the astronauts will not land, they are poised to set a record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth. Furthermore, the data collected during this mission will be vital for future lunar expeditions, including Artemis III in 2027 and the first crewed lunar landing on Artemis IV in 2028.
NASA chief Jared Isaacman said the Artemis II flyby of the Moon’s far side will break records and provide crucial insights for future missions. He added that every observation and test aboard Orion will help chart the next steps for humans in space.
