Artemis II Crew Enters Lunar Orbit for Historic Moon Flyby

NASA’s Artemis II mission hit a major milestone today as the Orion spacecraft officially entered the "lunar sphere of influence." For the first time in over 50 years, a human crew is close enough to the moon that its gravity is the primary force acting on their ship. Commander Reid Wiseman and his three crewmates sent back striking high-definition images of the lunar surface and a "blue marble" Earth.

The crew is currently preparing for a critical maneuver to swing around the far side of the moon. This slingshot move will set them on a trajectory to return to Earth, completing their 10-day journey. While they won't be landing on this trip, the data gathered during this flyby is vital for the upcoming Artemis III mission, which aims to put boots back on the ground.

On the ground in Houston, flight controllers are monitoring the spacecraft’s systems closely. So far, the Orion capsule has performed nearly perfectly, surviving the high-radiation environment of deep space. The crew has been conducting various experiments and testing the life-support systems that will be used by future astronauts living on the lunar gateway.

This mission marks a significant win for the U.S. space program and its international partners. As the crew nears the halfway point of their trip, public interest in the mission has surged, with millions of people tuning in to live feeds. NASA expects the crew to splash down in the Pacific Ocean later this week, marking the end of the most ambitious human spaceflight in decades.