Artemis 2 Sets New Distance Record

The Artemis 2 mission has achieved a new milestone, exceeding the previous record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans. As of 12:57 p.m. Central Time (1:57 p.m. Eastern Time) today, the Orion spacecraft reached 251,130 miles from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13’s record of 248,655 miles. NASA anticipates the spacecraft will reach a maximum distance of approximately 252,760 miles.

Focus on Lunar Geology: The Oriental Basin

Alongside the distance record, the Artemis 2 crew is prioritizing scientific observation of the Oriental Basin, a large impact crater on the far side of the Moon. Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the Moon,' the basin is a key target for understanding lunar geological evolution. Astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Cooke are directly observing and recording data using high-powered zoom lenses and portable computing devices.

Detailed Observations and Data Collection

The astronauts are capturing detailed images and annotations, focusing on the basin’s southern dark annular ring, color variations, texture, and topography. The science team is requesting centered images of the entire basin and surrounding craters, as well as mosaics created with the 80-400mm zoom lenses. The observations aim to inform hypotheses about the formation of the annular ring and the youngest lunar basin’s geologic history. Interestingly, the diameter of the Oriental Basin is roughly the distance between NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center.

Upcoming Events and Communication

The crew is scheduled to lose signal with Earth as the spacecraft flies behind the Moon at approximately 5:41 p.m. Central Time (6:41 p.m. Eastern Time). Closest approach to the Moon is expected at 6:00 p.m. Central Time (7:00 p.m. Eastern Time) at a distance of about 4,066 miles. Earth rise and re-establishment of communication are anticipated around 6:21 p.m. Central Time. The crew will continue observations in blocks, swapping positions between window observation and support roles. The team also noted observations of brownish and greenish hues on the lunar surface, a surprising finding given typical views from Earth.