The Artemis II crew made its closest approach to the Moon while transmission was interrupted

(SeaPRwire) –   The four astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission have traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history

The Orion capsule, which carries three NASA astronauts and one from the Canadian Space Agency, completed its much-anticipated lunar flyby—coming within about 4,070 miles (6,550 km) of the moon’s surface and entering the moon’s gravitational sphere of influence.

During a pre-planned, highly awaited phase of the mission, Houston’s Mission Control lost contact with the crew at approximately 6:43pm ET for around 40 minutes. The communication blackout took place because the moon’s body blocked radio and laser signals between the Earth-based Deep Space Network and the Orion spacecraft.

While out of touch, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, focused on their scientific goals—photographing and observing the lunar far side, including the 600-mile-wide Orientale basin.

This defining moment of the mission also saw the crew break a 56-year-old record, surpassing the 248,655-mile mark set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

“On the far side of the Moon, 252,756 miles away, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy have now traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history and now begin their journey home,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement on X.

“It is so great to hear from Earth again,” Koch said upon re-establishing communication with mission controllers. “We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers. We will do radio astronomy. We will found companies. We will bolster industry. We will inspire. But ultimately, we will always choose Earth.” 

The flyby serves as a critical test for NASA as the agency prepares for future lunar landings, with the capsule now on a four-day return path.