Artemis II Crew Begins Historic Journey Beyond Earth's Orbit
Originally: Watch: Artemis II's journey so far as it leaves Earth's orbit ... in 85 seconds
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NASA's Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have left Earth's orbit since 1972. The crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, is on a 10-day journey that will take them up to 252,799 miles (406,840 km) from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970. The mission will loop around the far side of the Moon but will not involve a lunar landing. This mission is a crucial step in preparing for a potential lunar landing by 2028. As Commander Wiseman stated, “This is a significant step for humanity in space exploration.”
Key Takeaways
- • Artemis II is the first crewed mission to leave Earth's orbit since 1972.
- • The mission's crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
- • The spacecraft will travel 252,799 miles (406,840 km) from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 record.
- • The mission will loop around the Moon but will not land, focusing on preparation for future lunar landings.
- • NASA aims for a potential lunar landing by 2028.
Why This Matters
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in human space exploration, rekindling interest in lunar missions and paving the way for future exploration of Mars and beyond. As NASA prepares for a potential lunar landing by 2028, this mission serves as a critical test of technologies and systems that will be essential for sustained human presence on the Moon.
This summary was generated by AI from original reporting by BBC News. Always verify important details with the original source.
