The Artemis II crew regained communication after orbiting the far side of the Moon, spending six hours observing unseen phenomena.
Communication Restored After Lunar Far Side Passage
The Artemis II crew re-established contact after passing behind the far side of the Moon, following a 40-minute communication blackout. The crew of the Orion spacecraft spent six hours studying the unlit hemisphere, observing phenomena invisible from Earth and taking detailed photographs of the Moon.
“It’s fantastic to hear Earth again,” said Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch as flight control in Houston regained contact with the spacecraft after emerging from radio shadow. “We will always choose Earth, we will always choose each other,” she added.
Witnessing Earthrise and Meteoroid Impacts
During the flyover of the far side of the Moon, when communication with NASA was completely impossible, the crew witnessed the phenomena of Earthrise and Earthset.
The astronauts also observed live flashes of light caused by meteoroids impacting the lunar surface. Mission Commander Reid Wiseman described the views as “absolutely spectacular and surreal,” adding that adjectives are lacking to convey what they see through the windows.
Record-Breaking Distance and Lunar Feature Naming
According to measurement data, the Orion spacecraft reached its farthest point in the trajectory, moving 406,771 kilometers from Earth, breaking the historical record for crewed missions previously held by Apollo 13.
Utilizing a unique perspective, the astronauts assigned working names to two previously unnamed craters. One was named “Integrity” in honor of the spacecraft, and the other was named “Carroll” to commemorate the mission commander’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, with a breaking voice, stated it is “a bright spot on the Moon.”
Preparation for Future Lunar Landings
The Artemis II flight is the first crewed mission in the vicinity of the Moon since the Apollo program. It serves as a dress rehearsal for the planned 2028 human landing on the surface of Earth’s natural satellite.
Crew Composition and Return to Earth
The Artemis II crew consists of four astronauts – three Americans: Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen.
The crew has already begun its return journey, which will conclude with a landing in the Pacific Ocean on Friday.
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