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NASA's Artemis II Sets Distance Record, Proposes Moon Crater Names

4/8/2026

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NASA's Artemis II Achievement

NASA's Artemis II achieved a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, traveling 252,756 miles from Earth and surpassing Apollo 13's distance record.
The crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—observed the moon's far side and Orientale basin.
They proposed naming two craters—'Integrity' and 'Carroll'—in honor of Wiseman's wife, and the mission remains a step toward future lunar landings with a splashdown on April 10, 2026.

Right

Trump Celebrates Artemis II

Key Information: U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated the Artemis II crew after their Moon flyby.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman credited Trump for the mission's success, saying it would not have happened without his support and national space policy.
The Artemis II crew comprises Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
The team achieved a distance of about 252,760 miles from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13's previous record.

History

Historical Context

The Apollo 13 mission, launched on April 11, 1970, aimed for a lunar landing but faced a critical failure when an oxygen tank exploded, disabling essential systems. Commanded by Jim Lovell, the crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat to return safely to Earth on April 17. This incident highlighted NASA's resilience and led to significant changes in safety protocols for future missions, including the upcoming Artemis II flyby in 2026.

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NASA's Artemis II Achievement

NASA's Artemis II achieved a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, traveling 252,756 miles from Earth and surpassing Apollo 13's distance record.
The crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—observed the moon's far side and Orientale basin.
They proposed naming two craters—'Integrity' and 'Carroll'—in honor of Wiseman's wife, and the mission remains a step toward future lunar landings with a splashdown on April 10, 2026.

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