After a landmark lunar flyby that took four astronauts farther from Earth than any humans before, the Artemis II crew has transmitted remarkable images from the Moon’s far side.
Earth Over the Lunar Horizon
The photos show Earth rising and setting over the Moon, a rare solar eclipse, and detailed views of the far side’s heavily cratered terrain.
The flyby lasted seven hours on Monday, April 6, 2026, and included a 40-minute communications blackout when the Moon temporarily blocked signals from reaching Earth.
As Integrity moved behind the Moon, the four astronauts—mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—captured images of the lunar far side.
The spacecraft came within 6,545 km of the Moon before reaching 406,771 km from Earth.
After regaining contact with Earth, Integrity observed a nearly hour-long total solar eclipse. This rare event offered an exceptional view of the Sun’s corona, revealing fine details normally hidden by its intense brightness.
With the Sun’s glare absent, the crew also managed to spot the faint flashes from six meteoroid strikes hitting the lunar surface.
The Moon’s far side continues to fascinate scientists because it differs so dramatically from the side facing Earth. While the near side features broad, dark basalt plains formed by ancient volcanic flows, the far side shows very little of this resurfacing and is instead densely marked with impact craters.
Why these two sides evolved so differently remains an unsolved mystery. New observations made with advanced technology could provide valuable clues toward explaining the contrast.
According to NASA, scientists on Earth are already examining the images transmitted back from the mission.
On April 7, NASA reported the crew documented craters, lava plains, and surface fractures, tracked terrain variations, observed Earthset and Earthrise, and captured the Sun’s corona during a solar eclipse.
Orion Prepares for High-Speed Reentry and Pacific Splashdown
The Orion spacecraft is returning home, with splashdown planned for 00:07 UTC on 11 April 2026, facing a critical high-speed reentry into the Pacific near San Diego.
The data collected during this mission will play a key role in shaping the next phases of the Artemis program. Lunar observations will enhance understanding of the Moon, while the 10-day voyage will refine spacecraft and mission planning for future crews.
The program’s next phase, Artemis III, is presently planned for 2027. The mission will stay near Earth, sending astronauts in Orion on the SLS to low Earth orbit to practice rendezvous and docking with commercial spacecraft.
Targeting a Crewed South Pole Lunar Landing in 2028
The fourth mission, Artemis IV, is currently aimed for early 2028. NASA plans for this stage to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole for science and sample collection.
Even before the upcoming missions, the discoveries made by the Artemis II crew represent a remarkable scientific bounty.
“Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy took humanity on an incredible lunar journey, bringing back stunning, scientifically valuable images,” said NASA’s Nicky Fox. “These will inspire generations to come.”
Read the original article on:sciencealert
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