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Artemis II Astronauts Set Distance Record on Historic Lunar Flyby

07 April, 2026.Technology and Science.44 sources

Key Takeaways

Artemis II travels farther from Earth than Apollo 13, setting a new distance record.
Crew conducted historic lunar flyby over the far side, witnessing solar eclipse and communications blackout.
Four astronauts aboard Orion completed the record lunar flyby.

Record-Breaking Journey

Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, reaching 252,756 miles from Earth.

The four astronauts became the farthest humans from our planet.

Al Jazeera

They observed the previously unseen far side of the Moon and witnessed a total solar eclipse.

They came within 4,067 miles of the surface.

Trump hailed them as modern-day pioneers.

Scientific Observations

The crew noted unusual coloration with brown terrain and isolated greenish hues.

They observed six small meteor impact flashes on the Moon's far side.

AM 800

The observations trained astronauts for future surface missions.

They identified two unnamed craters and proposed naming them Integrity and Carroll.

Public Engagement and Diplomacy

The mission captured global attention.

“Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon flyby that included a solar eclipse Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon flyby that included a solar eclipse HOUSTON (AP) — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now”