Artemis II Astronauts Break Apollo 13 Record During Lunar Blackout
NASA's Artemis II Orion spacecraft has entered a critical 41-minute communications blackout as it passes behind the moon, beginning at 6:44 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. This period marks a historic milestone, with the mission reaching the farthest distance any human has ever traveled from Earth, achieving its maximum at 7:07 p.m. ET.
Historic Distance Achievement
Earlier on Monday, the Artemis II crew surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 for the farthest human travel distance from Earth. This new achievement underscores the mission's groundbreaking nature, pushing the boundaries of human space exploration beyond previous limits.
Activities During the Blackout
Despite the communications loss, the astronauts are actively observing previously unseen parts of the moon's surface and capturing photographs. They are also scanning for meteor flashes in the darkness, utilizing this unique opportunity to gather scientific data and imagery from a vantage point never before accessed by humans.
Technical Details and Reconnection
The communications blackout is expected to last until approximately 7:25 p.m. EST, following the spacecraft's closest approach to the moon at a distance of 4,070 miles above its surface. NASA anticipates reestablishing contact shortly after this point, allowing for the resumption of real-time updates and data transmission.
This event highlights the challenges and triumphs of deep space missions, as NASA continues to advance its lunar exploration efforts with the Artemis program.
