NASA's Artemis II mission: first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years
Consensus Summary
NASA's Artemis II mission marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, launching four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon. The mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center using the Space Launch System rocket, aims to test the Orion spacecraft’s systems, life support, and docking procedures while breaking the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The crew will travel farther from Earth than any humans before, reaching approximately 406,772 km, and will photograph the Moon’s far side, including the Orientale Basin, during a six-hour flyby. Christina Koch becomes the first woman and Victor Glover the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit on a Moon mission, while Jeremy Hansen is the first Canadian in deep space. The mission also includes emotional moments, such as naming a lunar crater 'Carroll' after Commander Wiseman’s late wife. Artemis II serves as a critical stepping stone for NASA’s long-term goal of establishing a permanent lunar base and eventually sending humans to Mars. Minor technical issues, like a malfunctioning toilet and communication glitches, were quickly resolved, ensuring the mission’s success. The crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon and will splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2024, concluding this historic milestone in space exploration.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- NASA's Artemis II mission launched on November 16, 2024 (or April 2024 in some sources, but all agree it is the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972).
- The crew consists of Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist, first Canadian in deep space).
- Christina Koch is the first woman and Victor Glover is the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit on a Moon mission.
- The Orion spacecraft will travel farther from Earth than any humans before, surpassing Apollo 13's record of 400,171 km (248,655 miles) with a maximum distance of approximately 406,772 km (252,757 miles).
- The mission is a 10-day flyby around the Moon, with no landing, and will test life support systems, docking procedures, and spacecraft performance in deep space.
- The launch occurred from Kennedy Space Center in Florida using NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the most powerful operational rocket in history.
- The crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon, losing contact with mission control.
- The Artemis II mission aims to pave the way for a crewed lunar landing in 2028 (Artemis III) and eventually a permanent lunar base.
- The Orion capsule's interior volume is similar to that of a small camper van, and the crew will live in close quarters for 10 days.
- The mission includes a translunar injection burn to propel the spacecraft toward the Moon, occurring approximately 26 hours after launch.
- The crew will photograph the Moon's far side, including the Orientale Basin ('Grand Canyon'), and capture views of Earth from space.
- The Artemis II crew will splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2024 (or later date in some sources, but all agree it is a Pacific splashdown).
- The crew named a lunar crater 'Carroll' in honor of Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife and named the Orion spacecraft 'Integrity'.
- The mission is part of NASA's broader Moon to Mars initiative, aiming to establish a permanent lunar base as a stepping stone for Mars exploration.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Artemis II crew named a lunar crater 'Carroll' after Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll, and proposed the name to the International Astronomical Union.
- The crew captured images of Earth from 38,000 nautical miles and used iPhones, GoPros, and Nikon D5 cameras to document the mission.
- The crew experienced minor technical issues, including a malfunctioning toilet and email system, which were later fixed.
- The crew named the Orion spacecraft 'Integrity' and proposed naming a lunar crater 'Carroll' during a live broadcast.
- The crew will reach a maximum distance of 406,773 km from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 record by 4,102 miles (6,601 km).
- The crew will photograph the Moon's far side, including the Orientale Basin, which had never been seen with human eyes before.
- The crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon, with no contact with mission control.
- The crew will take shifts in pairs to photograph and document lunar features, using geology training and flashcards to identify lunar formations.
- The Artemis II mission is part of a new space race with China, which aims to land humans on the Moon by 2030.
- The mission was delayed due to a helium leak and hydrogen fuel leaks, requiring repairs and a return to the hangar.
- The crew will test the Orion spacecraft's ability to withstand temperatures up to 3,000°F (1650°C) during re-entry.
- The crew will monitor health effects of increased radiation and microgravity during the mission.
- The Artemis II crew will photograph the Moon's south pole, where the next human landing (Artemis IV in 2028) is planned.
- The crew will attempt to recreate the iconic 'Earthrise' photo taken during Apollo 8.
- The crew will survey potential landing zones for future missions, including the Reiner Gamma formation.
- The crew will observe Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn during the flyby.
- The crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon, with no contact with mission control.
- The crew will use the Orion spacecraft's 'flywheel exercise device' for daily workouts to minimize muscle and bone loss.
- The crew will carry personal items such as Reid Wiseman's notepad, Victor Glover's Bible, and Jeremy Hansen's maple syrup and cookies.
- The crew broke the Apollo 13 distance record at approximately 4am AEST on Tuesday, traveling 400,171 km from Earth.
- The crew proposed naming a lunar crater 'Carroll' after Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll, and named the Orion spacecraft 'Integrity'.
- The crew will face a terrifying 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon, with no contact with mission control.
- The crew will photograph the Moon's far side, including the Orientale Basin, which had never been seen with human eyes before.
- The crew will conduct a proximity operations demonstration to test manual maneuvering and docking procedures.
- The crew will test the Orion spacecraft's life support systems, including oxygen supply and temperature control.
- The crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout when passing behind the Moon, with no contact with mission control.
- The crew will use the Orion spacecraft's 'flywheel exercise device' for daily workouts to minimize muscle and bone loss.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 (ABC) states the launch occurred in early April, while Article 14 (ABC) states the launch is set for early Thursday morning AEST (April 14, 2024).
- Article 1 (ABC) mentions the launch date as April 2024, but Article 14 (ABC) states the launch is set for early April with a window until the end of the month.
- Article 10 (ABC) states the launch is set for 9:24am AEDT, while Article 14 (ABC) states the launch is expected to take place on Wednesday afternoon local time, early on Thursday morning AEST.
- Article 1 (ABC) and Article 14 (ABC) mention the launch date as April 2024, but Article 10 (ABC) states the launch is set for early Thursday morning AEST (April 14, 2024).
- Article 1 (ABC) and Article 14 (ABC) mention the launch date as April 2024, but Article 10 (ABC) states the launch is set for 9:24am AEDT (April 14, 2024).
Source Articles
Live: Artemis II on track to break humanity's all-time distance record
The Artemis II astronauts are on track to break humanity's all-time distance record from Earth before embarking on a six-hour flyby of the Moon. Follow live....
Live: NASA's Artemis II mission to the Moon set to launch within the hour
Four astronauts are on board the Orion capsule atop NASA's next-generation SLS rocket as humanity prepares to return to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Follow live....
NASA begins countdown for humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years
Four astronauts on the Artemis II rocket are set to blast off early Thursday morning....
Artemis II launch: crowds gather for glimpse of historic Nasa moon mission
Fully crewed rocket will head to moon from Florida – first time since 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbit A little more than an hour before sunset on Florida’s space coast, up to 400,000...
Artemis II capsule boost puts astronauts moon-bound
The Orion capsule carrying four astronauts in NASA's Artemis II mission successfully fired its engines this morning, kicking the crew out of Earth's orbit and towards the moon....
Artemis II astronauts rocket towards the moon after breaking free of Earth’s orbit
Spacecraft’s engine fired up for six minutes to propell astronauts on their three-day voyage towards Earth’s natural satellite The four Artemis astronauts fired up their spacecraft’s engine to break a...
Astronauts make history, break 56-year distance record
The Artemis II astronauts have just made history. Now they face a terrifying 40 minute blackout....
Artemis II chases record for the farthest humans have ventured from Earth
The Apollo 13 crew has held the distance record for a manned aircraft's maximum range from Earth since the 1970s. The Artemis II crew is about to change that....
Next generation heads for the Moon
If all goes well for NASA's Artemis II mission, the astronauts aboard could fly the furthest that humans have ever gone. What should we be looking out for?...
Live: Artemis II breaks all-time distance record during historic loop of the Moon
The Artemis II astronauts have travelled farther from Earth than any humans before. The crew is now on a historic six-hour flyby of the Moon, capturing never-before-seen views of its far side. Follow ...
Artemis II astronauts prepare to leave Earth’s orbit and head towards the moon
Nasa mission enters its second day, with crew hoping to become first people to get close to the moon in over 50 years Four astronauts are preparing to leave Earth’s orbit and slingshot towards the moo...
'You look beautiful': Artemis II crew makes contact from space – video
The four astronauts on Nasa's lunar mission have spoken about their journey so far via video. Their Orion capsule is approaching 100,000 miles from Earth as it heads towards the moon, putting them on ...
Artemis II crew enters moon’s ‘sphere of influence’ ahead of historic flyby
Astronauts on Nasa’s Orion capsule made transition about 39,000 miles from the moon, meaning they feel its gravitational pull more strongly than that of the Earth The four astronauts on Nasa’s Artemis...
In pictures: Artemis II NASA's first mission to the Moon in decades
For the first time in more than 50 years NASA has sent astronauts around the Moon, marking a major milestone in a new era of space exploration....
Artemis II astronauts on course to set new distance record during moon flyby
Four astronauts are set to become Earth’s farthest travelled and exceed a 1970 record on the sixth day of the mission Artemis II astronauts are on course to set a new distance record Monday when they ...
Artemis II, Nasa’s first crewed lunar rocket in more than half a century, prepares for launch – watch and follow live
Follow latest updates, including how to watch the launch, as four astronauts prepare to set off on a 10-day, 685,000-mile journey with millions watching There’s potentially alarming news from AccuWeat...