The Artemis II mission has achieved a historic milestone by taking four astronauts on a journey farther from Earth than ever before. The crew has shared remarkable images of the Moon’s far side with those back on Earth.
The photographs showcase Earth appearing over the Moon’s edge, both setting and rising, a rare solar eclipse viewed from space as the Moon eclipsed the Sun from the Orion spacecraft Integrity, and detailed images of the far side’s geology, which is heavily cratered compared to the near side.
The flyby lasted for seven hours on Monday, 6 April 2026, and included a 40-minute period without communication due to the Moon blocking the signal.
While Integrity was behind the Moon, mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen captured images of the far side.
During this phase, the spacecraft came within 6,545 kilometers (4,067 miles) of the Moon’s surface, its closest approach, before reaching a maximum distance of 406,771 kilometers from Earth.
After reestablishing communication with Earth, the spacecraft witnessed a total solar eclipse lasting nearly an hour as the Sun was obscured by the Moon. This eclipse allowed the crew to observe details in the solar corona, typically hidden by the Sun’s intense light.
During this time, they also detected six meteoroid impacts on the lunar surface, visible due to the absence of sunlight glare.
The far side of the Moon is particularly fascinating due to its stark contrast with the near side. While the near side features vast, dark volcanic plains, the far side is largely devoid of such formations and is instead marked by numerous craters.
The reason behind this disparity remains unknown, but new technology may offer insights.
NASA reports that scientists are already examining the images sent back to Earth.
“During the lunar flyby, the crew documented impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface fractures that will help scientists study the Moon’s geologic evolution,” NASA stated in an update on April 7.
“They monitored color, brightness, and texture differences across the terrain, observed an earthset and earthrise, and captured solar‑eclipse views of the Sun’s corona.”
The Orion spacecraft is on its return journey, with a planned splashdown at 00:07 UTC on Saturday, 11 April 2026, if conditions permit. This phase is considered the most perilous part as the craft undergoes high-speed atmospheric reentry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
The data collected during the mission will guide the next phases of the Artemis program. Insights into the Moon will enhance our understanding, while the nearly 10-day mission will help improve spacecraft and mission designs for future crews.
The next stage, Artemis III, is scheduled for 2027 and will focus on testing rendezvous and docking procedures in low Earth orbit with commercial spacecraft intended for future lunar landings.
Artemis IV, aimed for early 2028, will attempt a crewed landing near the Moon’s south pole for scientific observations and sample collection.
Related: It’s Official: Artemis II Has Carried Humans Farther From Earth Than Ever Before
Even without future missions, the scientific data from Artemis II is invaluable.
“Our four Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy – took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come,” said Nicky Fox, NASA Science Directorate associate administrator, in a statement.
