Artemis II voyage repesents the furthest manned expedition from Earth in recorded history. This milestone was accompanied by several deeply moving occurrences.
The moon is seen through the one of the Artemis II Orion capsule’s windows.(Image credit: NASA)Subscribe to our newsletter
The Artemis II mission has once again etched its name in the annals of space exploration by taking humanity farther from Earth than any previous journey. This accomplishment eclipses the prior record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) established by Apollo 13 back in 1970.
The previous benchmark was surpassed today, April 6, at precisely 1:57 p.m. EDT (17:57 GMT) as the Orion spacecraft, named “Integrity,” commenced its trajectory around the far hemisphere of the moon. NASA has indicated that the mission is slated to achieve a peak separation of 252,760 miles (406,777 kilometers) from Earth during its six-hour lunar passage, thereby extending the existing human spaceflight record by approximately 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers).
Shortly after achieving this record distance, the crew’s lunar circuit was imbued with further significance when they identified a crater situated between the moon’s near and far sides. They communicated with mission control to propose that the crater be designated in honor of Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman’s late spouse, Carroll.
Wiseman described a particularly striking feature on the moon, located “just on the near side” of the boundary marking the far side, calling it “a really neat place.”
“So at certain moments as the moon orbits Earth, we will have the ability to observe this location from our planet,” Wiseman stated, his voice faltering slightly. “We experienced the loss of a dear one; her name was Carroll. She was Reid’s partner and the mother of Katie and Ellie.”
“It presents as a luminous point on the lunar surface. We would be honored to name it Carroll,” he concluded, embracing his fellow crew members.
The astronauts also pointed out another geological formation for which they requested naming rights, in honor of their capsule, “Integrity.”
“Integrity and Carroll crater. Your message is received loud and clear,” was the response from mission control.
Lunar flyby
The Orion spacecraft is projected to travel at approximately 3,139 mph (5,052 km/h) as it navigates its path around the moon.
Throughout this lunar flyby, the four Artemis II astronauts—Weisman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—will capture photographic data of around 30 scientific points of interest on the moon’s surface. These include the immense Orientale basin, an impact crater spanning roughly 600 miles (1,000 km) that straddles both the near and far sides of the moon, and the older Hertzsprung basin, located on the far side.
“I truly wish you could be up here to witness these beaming countenances,” expressed Artemis II commander and astronaut Reid Weisman today (April 6) during NASA’s live broadcast of the lunar flyby.
The Artemis II mission offers a higher vantage point of the moon compared to the Apollo missions, providing a distinct perspective of the lunar terrain, as conveyed during the NASA livestream. These observations are intended to furnish scientists with novel, close-up views of lunar geology from various angles during the flyby.
“It’s absolutely astonishing what the naked eye can perceive,” remarked Glover during the NASA livestream.
This flyby is anticipated to yield some of the mission’s most spectacular imagery. From the vantage point of the Orion spacecraft, the crew members will witness an “Earthset” as our planet disappears behind the moon, followed subsequently by an “Earthrise,” with our home world reappearing over the lunar horizon. The iconic “Earthrise” photograph was famously captured by the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Artemis II astronauts received a recorded message from Apollo 8 astronaut Jim Lovell shortly before his passing in August 2025: “Welcome to my former stomping grounds. It is a momentous day, and I realize you will be quite occupied, but do take a moment to savor the view.”
The mission’s schedule also includes an opportunity for the astronauts to observe a solar eclipse, as the moon transits in front of the sun. Utilizing specialized eclipse glasses and camera equipment, the crew members will be able to view and photograph the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, as it becomes visible around the lunar edge.
“We are prepared to execute our objectives,” stated Koch during the NASA livestream.
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