Artemis II: Humanity’s Return to the Moon
The Artemis II mission marks a monumental moment in space exploration, as humanity embarks on a journey not witnessed for decades. This mission, with a human crew soaring above the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program, allows us to experience the events in real time. You can follow this historic flyby via the NASA YouTube channel.
The Path to the Moon
As of 06:37 AM Spanish time, Orion has crossed into the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity takes precedence over Earth’s. This pivotal moment signifies more than just a technical achievement; it represents humanity’s return to lunar exploration. The next critical event will be the spacecraft’s maneuver around the Moon before its return journey.
Breaking Records
At 7:56 PM Spanish time, the Artemis II crew surpassed the distance record previously set by Apollo 13, becoming the furthest humans from Earth. This achievement, lasting since 1970, underscores our progress in human spaceflight and exploration.
Maneuver Timeline
The mission is structured around a precise timeline filled with significant events. Below are some of the key milestones that have occurred or are expected:
- 06:37 AM: Enter lunar sphere of influence
- 07:30 PM: Scientific briefing from mission control
- 07:56 PM: Broken Apollo 13 distance record
- 08:45 PM: Start of lunar observations
- 12:44 AM: Communication loss while behind the Moon
- 12:45 AM: “Earthset”—Earth obscured by the Moon
- 01:02 AM: Closest approach at approximately 6,550 km
- 01:07 AM: Maximum distance from Earth
- 01:25 AM: “Earthrise”—Earth visible again
- 01:25 AM: Communication restored
- 02:35 AM – 03:32 AM: Solar eclipse visible from Orion
- 03:20 AM: Conclusion of lunar observations
Live Coverage of the Flyby
During this significant flyby, we can expect live footage captured by cameras mounted on Orion’s solar panels. However, NASA cautions that the quality of these images may vary due to distance, system limitations, and communication bandwidth. Nonetheless, these images will allow viewers to follow the mission closely, offering a glimpse into this extraordinary moment in history.
The Journey Continues
As we continue to observe the events unfolding hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, Artemis II presses ahead with its sequence of maneuvers. This mission is far from over; it is a dynamic process that we are witnessing in real time.
Images | POT
In Xataka: “Artemis II is not just a victory for NASA: without the support of Europe, it would have been impossible.”