The Artemis 2 astronauts have successfully captured a groundbreaking image of Earth rising over the unexplored side of the Moon. This momentous achievement marks the first time humans have laid eyes on the hidden hemisphere of the Moon, which remains unseen from our planet.
Commander Reid Wiseman expressed his awe at witnessing sights never before seen by human eyes, surpassing even the Apollo missions. The crew’s encounter with the Moon included photographing its surface using digital cameras, creating sketches, and providing audio descriptions of their observations.
During a 40-minute period behind the Moon, the team lost communication with Earth as they approached the lunar surface. As the Orion spacecraft neared the Moon, the crew experienced a solar eclipse when the Moon obscured the Sun’s light, setting a new record for the farthest human travel distance at approximately 13:56 EDT on Monday.
Astronaut Jeremey Hansen, representing Canada, highlighted the importance of honoring past space exploration achievements as they ventured farther from Earth than ever before. The team requested that two craters they observed be named “Integrity,” after their Orion capsule, and as a tribute to Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.
As their historic lunar flyby and observation concluded after seven hours, the astronauts are now en route back to Earth. The 10-day mission will culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday, April 10.
