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Artemis II Breaks Apollo 13 Record in Historic Lunar Flyby

4/7/2026

Summary

Artemis II Achieves Milestone

Artemis II reached over 252,700 miles from Earth during a historic lunar flyby.
This distance exceeds Apollo 13's record by over 6,600 kilometers.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen captured unprecedented views of the Moon's far side.
They experienced a brief communications blackout behind the Moon.
The mission supports plans for a sustainable Moon presence by 2028, with Artemis III targeting a crewed landing.

Summary

Artemis II Communication Blackout

NASA's Artemis II mission will undergo a planned 40-minute communication blackout as the spacecraft passes behind the Moon.
During the blackout, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will focus on lunar observations.
Ground teams will anxiously await re-establishing contact, while future satellite networks aim to ensure continuous communication for sustained lunar exploration.
The event mirrors Apollo 11, when Michael Collins felt isolated yet found peace.

History

Historical Context

The Apollo program, initiated in 1960, culminated in the historic Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. This achievement, watched by approximately 650 million people, symbolized U.S. technological prowess during the Cold War. The Artemis II mission aims to continue this legacy, preparing for lunar exploration by 2028.

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Artemis II Achieves Milestone

Artemis II reached over 252,700 miles from Earth during a historic lunar flyby.
This distance exceeds Apollo 13's record by over 6,600 kilometers.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen captured unprecedented views of the Moon's far side.
They experienced a brief communications blackout behind the Moon.
The mission supports plans for a sustainable Moon presence by 2028, with Artemis III targeting a crewed landing.

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