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NASA’s Artemis II mission made history on April 6, 2026, when four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft traveled 248,655 miles from Earth — surpassing the previous human spaceflight distance record held by Apollo 13 for 54 years.
Breaking a Record Set in 1970
Apollo 13’s crew set the distance record in April 1970 during their emergency return from the Moon. On Monday at 12:56 p.m. CDT, the Artemis II crew eclipsed that mark. At the mission’s farthest point, the Orion spacecraft reached approximately 252,756 miles from Earth, setting a new benchmark for crewed spaceflight.
The Crew
The four-person crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. During the lunar flyby, the crew photographed the Moon’s surface and conducted systems tests aboard Orion.
Closest Approach to the Moon
As part of a seven-hour lunar flyby, the spacecraft passed within 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface — the closest humans have come to the Moon since the Apollo era. The crew passed behind the Moon from Earth’s perspective, briefly losing radio contact with mission control in Houston.
What Comes Next
After completing the lunar flyby, Orion began its return trajectory toward Earth. Splashdown is scheduled for Friday, April 10, at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT off the coast of San Diego. The mission serves as a critical test flight for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon with Artemis III.
FAQ
What record did Artemis II break?
Artemis II broke the farthest human spaceflight distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The Orion spacecraft traveled approximately 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13’s record of 248,655 miles.
When will the Artemis II crew return to Earth?
The crew is scheduled to splashdown off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026, at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT).
This article was written by AI based on publicly available information.
