The crew of Artemis II is set to become the farthest humans from Earth, but they will also lose communication with home as they speed towards the Moon. They are expected to reach the far side of the Moon at approximately 11:47 pm UK time today, during which they will experience around 40 minutes of radio silence.
Since their journey began on Wednesday, the astronauts have maintained constant contact with the NASA team in Houston, Texas. However, as they approach the Moon, they will be left alone in space, isolated from Earth, immersed in their own thoughts and emotions as they traverse the vastness of space.
Once they pass behind the Moon, communication with Earth will be disrupted due to the Moon blocking the signals. This phenomenon is reminiscent of Michael Collins’ experience during Apollo 11 more than 50 years ago, where he also lost contact for 48 minutes while orbiting the Moon. Artemis pilot Victor Glover, prior to the mission, expressed his hopes for people to send positive thoughts and prayers during the communication blackout.
The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, will travel an impressive 252,757 miles from Earth in this remarkable mission. Despite the challenges, such as a malfunctioning toilet onboard, the team successfully resolved the issue with the assistance of NASA mission controllers.
Reach and its partners use cookies and other identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver personalized ads. Users can manage data sharing preferences by clicking the relevant button on the webpage. By using the website and services, users agree to the use of cookies and acknowledge the privacy practices and terms and conditions outlined.
