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Technology and Science11 April, 20261 min read

NASA's Artemis II Completes Historic 10-Day Crewed Moon Flyby Successfully

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Four astronauts completed a 10-day crewed lunar flyby around the Moon and safely returned. The mission achieved splashdown in the Pacific and the crew returned to Houston to cheers.

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NASA's Artemis II Completes Historic 10-Day Crewed Moon Flyby Successfully
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Artemis II Success

NASA's Artemis II mission successfully sent four astronauts on a 10-day flyby of the moon. The crew returned safely, with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman calling it a mission well accomplished. The mission uncovered issues including toilet malfunctions and a leak in the service module's propulsion system.

The crew captured unprecedented images of the lunar far side and witnessed a 53-minute solar eclipse from space. The mission demonstrated that Orion can transport humans to the moon, setting up the next steps in the Artemis program.

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Image: 6abc Philadelphia
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Challenges Ahead

NASA needs a lunar lander to put boots on the surface. SpaceX and Blue Origin are well behind schedule. The landers must carry significant infrastructure and require enormous amounts of propellant.

The Artemis program intends to store propellant in an orbital depot topped up by more than 10 tanker flights. The next Artemis mission is scheduled for mid-2027 to test docking.

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Public and Political Reaction

The mission captivated the public with 32 cameras capturing life inside the Orion capsule. Comedian Bill Maher criticized the mission as a $4 billion feel-good story. His remarks were criticized by guests and commentators.

The Guardian questioned the practical case for human spaceflight given advances in robotic exploration. $100 billion has been spent on Artemis to date.

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International Competition

Artemis II sets the United States ahead of China in a 21st century space race. China aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. NASA's 2028 target aligns with President Trump's renewed space policy.

Independent analysts don't believe the target is realistic. The next Chinese lunar mission is scheduled for launch in August 2026.

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Image: ABC7 Los Angeles
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