Where is Artemis II? NASA astronauts near the moon for first time in more than 50 years

Where is Artemis II? NASA astronauts near the moon for first time in more than 50 years

By Claire Cameron edited by Lee Billings

The Artemis II astronauts have now passed the “two-thirds” mark of their mission to circle the moon and head back to Earth. By 10:15 A.M. EDT on Sunday, the Orion spacecraft was over 211,000 miles from Earth and roughly 68,500 miles from the moon.

Day Four of the mission began with the crew waking to the opening lines of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” Unfortunately, NASA cut the song before the chorus, leading commander Reid Wiseman to echo a shared sentiment: “We were all eagerly awaiting the chorus.”

On Saturday, the team—comprising Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—began intensive preparations for their scheduled lunar flyby on Monday, April 6. Each astronaut has specific lunar geography targets to observe as the capsule approaches within approximately 4,000 miles of the lunar surface. At this proximity, the moon will appear as large as a basketball held at arm’s length. Already, the crew has glimpsed parts of the moon’s far side for the first time, Koch shared during the NASA live stream of the mission.

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“It is absolutely phenomenal,” Koch remarked. “The moon we are looking at is not the moon you see from Earth whatsoever.”

Glover was described as “mesmerized” by the view of the Orientale basin, a vast impact crater that scientists hope the astronauts will be able to examine during their journey.

Direct observation of the moon allows astronauts to quickly identify lunar features easily missed in satellite and robot-captured images. For instance, former NASA astronaut and Apollo 17 crewmember Harrison Schmitt discovered orange-colored dust on the lunar surface, which indicated volcanic activity (Schmitt was also allergic to moon dust).

At a press conference on Saturday, NASA’s science mission directorate lead for the Artemis II mission expressed anticipation of “goosebumps” as she and other scientists eagerly await the crew’s observations. “They are absolutely prepared not just to give really scientifically compelling descriptions, but also to bring that experience verbally to us watching here on Earth,” she noted.

Additionally, on Day Four, NASA called off a planned maneuver of the Orion space capsule intended to maintain its trajectory, as it was deemed unnecessary. Orion remains on course for the moon’s far side.

However, NASA did adjust the spacecraft’s attitude to direct its wastewater vent lines more toward the sun, melting ice that was suspected of blocking wastewater dumps. This wastewater primarily consists of the crew’s pretreated urine, while solid waste is stored in odor-controlled canisters. During this effort, there was much discussion about the toilet as the crew and Mission Control attempted to flush the vent lines and drain it—a first for a moon mission. For a time, the crew relied on “collapsible contingency urinals,” essentially advanced high-tech bags.

The astronauts also had another opportunity to steer the spacecraft, testing Orion’s manual control capability if needed during the mission. Hansen and Koch took turns, while Wiseman and Glover are scheduled for another opportunity on Wednesday, April 9. These tests are vital for future Artemis missions involving moon landings, as the Orion capsule will need to dock with another spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the lunar surface.

The astronauts took a group selfie, capturing their reflection in the Orion capsule window using a camera on the solar array. Mission Control jokingly mentioned they looked forward to the Christmas card.

The crew’s midday meal featured sweet and sour pork, nuts, berries, and a lemon curd cake.

Today, on Day Five, Orion officially enters the moon’s sphere of influence, where its gravitational pull exceeds that of Earth’s. The day will focus on extensive testing and preparation.

After waking, the crew will conduct a series of tests on their spacesuits, known as the Orion Crew Survival System. These tests include ensuring they can quickly don the suits, securely strap into seats, and eat and drink through a helmet port. The International Orange spacesuits are designed to protect astronauts during lift-off, re-entry, and emergencies, providing up to six days of breathable air if Orion depressurizes.

Subsequently, the spacecraft may need to execute a maneuver to stay on track for its lunar flyby on April 6, which will be the mission’s most demanding day outside of the launch and return to Earth.

During a separate press event on Saturday, Glover spoke about the mission’s significance: “That we can do this right now means we could do so much more.”

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