Artemis II astronauts reach far side of moon

Artemis II crew breaks distance records on lunar flyby

The four astronauts aboard the Artemis II spacecraft have reached the far side of the moon, travelling further from Earth than any humans before them. The crew of Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Jeremy Hansen, completed the historic flyby as part of NASA's first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo programme ended in 1972.

NASA reported the mission was on course throughout, with Glover confirming the spacecraft had exited Earth's orbit following a successful thruster burn. "The Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger," he told mission control.

The Artemis II trajectory differs significantly from the Apollo flights of the 1960s and 70s, which passed roughly 70 miles above the lunar surface. The Orion capsule came within just over 4,000 miles at closest approach, allowing the crew to observe the moon's complete spherical form, including polar regions that Apollo crews never saw.

Far side features seen by human eyes for the first time

During the six-hour flyby, Koch described seeing the Orientale Basin, a large impact crater on the moon's far side sometimes compared to the Grand Canyon. "No human eyes had previously seen this crater until today," she said during a live question-and-answer session hosted by the Canadian Space Agency. The crew photographed the feature as part of their geological observation duties.

All four astronauts received geology training before the mission to help them identify and describe lunar surface features, including ancient lava flows and impact craters. Each crew member memorised what NASA calls the moon's "big 15", the 15 surface features that allow an observer to establish orientation.

NASA published images taken by the crew showing both the Orientale Basin and a full portrait of Earth, with its deep blue oceans and cloud cover clearly visible against the black of space.

Toilet fault forces crew to use backup system

The mission has not been without problems. The Orion capsule's toilet malfunctioned shortly after Wednesday's launch and has functioned only intermittently since. Mission control instructed the crew to continue using backup urine collection bags until engineers resolve the issue.

Engineers believe ice may be obstructing the line responsible for flushing urine overboard. The toilet remains available for solid waste. Debbie Korth, deputy manager of NASA's Orion programme, acknowledged a smell had been reported from the capsule's bathroom area. "Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand," she said. "It's always a challenge." She noted the space shuttle toilet was similarly unreliable throughout its operational life.

A version of the Artemis II toilet was tested on the International Space Station several years ago. John Honeycutt, chair of the mission management team, said the crew were managing the situation well. "They trained to manage through the situation," he said.

Crew morale remains high despite technical setbacks

Commander Wiseman reported positive spirits aboard the spacecraft during a live press conference, telling Houston's mission control the crew was in good shape. Wiseman spoke with his daughters from space before the press call and called the moment the highlight of the mission so far. "We're up here, we're so far away, and for a moment, I was reunited with my little family," he said.

The astronauts woke on Sunday to Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club, with a breakfast of scrambled eggs and coffee, before beginning their working day. A total solar eclipse was also visible during the mission window.

Artemis II sets the foundation for a lunar return

The mission is one component of a broader NASA strategy to return humans to the moon on a sustained basis. A crewed landing near the lunar south pole is planned for 2028, with two crew members expected to make the surface descent. The goal is to establish a permanent lunar base that would support further exploration, including eventual missions to Mars.

The Artemis II crew are the first to reach lunar distance since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Apollo 13 in 1970 is the current record-holder for maximum distance from Earth following a mission abort caused by an oxygen tank failure, which prevented a landing. The Artemis crew surpassed that record during Monday's flyby.

Unlike the Apollo missions, which flew a tighter orbital arc around the moon, the Artemis trajectory placed the spacecraft far enough out to see the moon's poles and far side in a way no crew had managed before. The images and observational data gathered during the flyby will contribute to future mission planning, particularly for south pole landing site selection.

Industry impact

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed test of the Orion capsule and Space Launch System in deep space, and its results will shape the pace and scope of the next decade of lunar activity. A successful flyby strengthens the case for Artemis III, the planned crewed landing, which has faced repeated schedule revisions since 2022. Commercial contractors, including SpaceX as lander provider, have significant programmes dependent on the Artemis landing timeline. The toilet malfunction, while minor in isolation, will drive engineering reviews that affect crewed deep space mission design standards across both government and commercial programmes. How NASA handles the issue publicly will also test its communications strategy ahead of the more complex Artemis III flight.