Here's everything to know about Artemis II's historic lunar flyby today
Artemis II is about to have its climactic moment: The crew is heading into their closely choreographed lunar flyby, when their spacecraft will swing around the moon's far side.
NASA will broadcast the space event live on Monday, April 6. During this pass, the four astronauts will carry out a detailed science plan that calls for 30 different observation targets. Some of the crew will station themselves at the central windows to photograph and document the moon views, while others will offer support from inside the cabin, rotating through roles as the flyby unfolds.
As the spacecraft moves behind the moon, Earth will gradually slide across the windows and then slip out of sight in a dramatic Earthset. During that period, radio contact with mission control in Houston will drop for about 40 minutes, a planned loss of signal caused by the moon blocking the line of sight. Even without that communication link, the crew will keep working.
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Check out these Mashable stories for how to watch the historic mission milestone, why scientists are excited about the crew's lunar observations, and what the astronauts will experience from their perspective:
Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas
The day Earth slipped behind the moon: the Artemis II crew's eclipse
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Topics NASA
Elisha Sauers writes about space for Mashable, taking deep dives into NASA's moon and Mars missions, chatting up astronauts and history-making discoverers, and jetting above the clouds. Through 17 years of reporting, she's covered a variety of topics, including health, business, and government, with a penchant for public records requests. She previously worked for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, and The Capital in Annapolis, Maryland. Her work has earned numerous state awards, including the Virginia Press Association's top honor, Best in Show, and national recognition for narrative storytelling. For each year she has covered space, Sauers has won National Headliner Awards, including first place for her Sex in Space series. Send space tips and story ideas to [email protected] or text 443-684-2489. Follow her on X at @elishasauers.
