BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The Artemis II mission, spearheaded by Cockeysville native Reid Weisman, is set to make a groundbreaking lunar flyby on Monday, marking a significant milestone in their journey.
This flyby will establish a new record for the farthest distance any human has ventured into space, surpassing the Apollo 13 mission’s record from 1970.
According to NASA, “The crew will navigate around the far side of the moon, capturing images of lunar features that have never been seen by humans before.” At their closest approach, they will be approximately 4,000 miles above the moon’s surface.
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The official observation window will begin at 2:45 p.m. The crew has 35 viewing targets, including the potential to observe the landing sites of the Apollo 12 and 14 missions.
Catch the mission livestream below:
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Setting Records and Honoring Legacy
The mission’s latest phase will unfold over seven hours. NASA has indicated that this flyby will not only allow the four-member crew to witness previously unseen sections of the moon but also to experience a rare solar eclipse.
The Artemis crew broke the Apollo 13 distance record of 248,655 miles from Earth at 1:57 p.m. EST. The Orion spacecraft is expected to reach a new record of 252,760 miles from Earth.
Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian Space Agency’s sole representative on the Artemis mission, stated, “As we exceed the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, we honor the remarkable achievements of those who came before us in space exploration.”
“Our journey will continue even further into space before Earth’s gravity brings us back to what we cherish,” he added.
“Importantly, we challenge this generation and the next to ensure this record is not long-lasting,” he continued.
Shortly after breaking the distance record, the Artemis crew proposed naming two craters to commemorate their mission.
The first crater, located near the Om Crater, is suggested to be named Integrity, in honor of their spacecraft.
The second crater, near the Glushko crater, is proposed to be named Carroll, in memory of Wiseman’s wife, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 46.
“It’s a bright spot on the moon, and we would like to call it Carroll,” Hansen remarked.
Shortly after this heartfelt transmission, the crew was seen wiping away tears and embracing one another.
After briefly discussing the distance record, the astronauts dimmed the cabin lights and began preparing their cameras and equipment for the flyby.
Related: MD Native Leads NASA’s Manned Moon Mission
Mission Timeline
At 6:44 p.m., the crew is expected to lose contact with NASA for 40 minutes. During this period, Artemis will reach its farthest distance from Earth.
The maximum distance from Earth is anticipated to occur at 7:07 p.m. EST.
From 8:35 p.m. to 9:32 p.m., a solar eclipse will be visible, allowing the astronauts to study the sun’s corona and observe Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn.
A media briefing is scheduled for 10:50 p.m.
‘Welcome to My Old Neighborhood’
Since the mission’s launch, astronauts have been awakened by a variety of songs. On Monday, they were greeted with a message from Jim Lovell, the Apollo 13 commander who passed away last year.
The Associated Press reported that Lovell recorded this message two months before his passing.
“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” Lovell said. “It’s a historic day, and I know you’ll be busy, but don’t forget to take in the view.”
Wiseman, along with Hansen, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, are making history as the first crew in decades to embark on a manned lunar mission since the Apollo program concluded in the 1970s.
Related: Artemis Mission Makes History
The team launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. after a minor delay.
This mission to the moon and back will evaluate the Orion spacecraft’s life support, communication, and navigation systems, ensuring astronaut safety in preparation for future lunar landings.
Payloads aboard Artemis II will collect data on space radiation, human health and behavior, and space communications to support future explorations.
Return operations will commence on Tuesday, marking the start of a four-day journey that will utilize Earth’s gravity to slingshot the Orion craft back home. A splashdown is expected in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, off the coast of San Diego.
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