Artemis II Mission to Achieve Historic Lunar Flyby Today
Astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission are scheduled to perform a flyby around the Moon today, representing the first close encounter with the lunar surface in more than five decades. This landmark event follows the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, making the four-person crew the first humans to see the Moon up close since that time.
Breaking Distance Records from Earth
The mission is poised to set a new record for the furthest distance humans have travelled from Earth. It is expected to surpass the previous record of 248,655 miles established by Apollo 13 in 1970. Specifically, the Orion spacecraft will exceed the Apollo 13 record at 1:56 p.m. EST/6:56 p.m. BST and reach its peak distance of 252,760 miles from Earth at 7:07 p.m. EST/12:07 a.m. BST.
Mission Trajectory and Conclusion
The astronauts will utilise a 'free-turn trajectory' during their journey. The test flight is set to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, marking the end of this pioneering expedition.
Live Coverage Details
Live streaming of the Artemis II lunar flyby is available on multiple platforms, including NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and Roku. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. EST, providing real-time updates on this historic space endeavour.
Inspirational Message from Apollo Era
In a touching gesture, an Apollo astronaut has sent an inspirational message to the Artemis crew, offering support and encouragement as they embark on their journey to the Moon. This connection highlights the continuity and legacy of human space exploration across generations.
