NASA Captures Rare Lunar and Earth Alignment During Artemis II Flyby A striking image captured during the Artemis II mission’s lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, showcases the Moon and Earth in a single frame, each partially illuminated by the Sun. The photograph highlights the Moon’s surface in sharp detail in the foreground, while Earth appears smaller and softly lit in the background. A faint reflection in the spacecraft’s window subtly overlays the scene, adding a unique perspective to the view. The alignment demonstrates the geometric relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon, offering a rare glimpse of the solar system’s dynamics from deep space. The Moon’s surface is rendered in high clarity, revealing its rugged terrain and craters, while Earth’s presence is marked by its subtle glow, reflecting the sunlight that illuminates both celestial bodies. Despite their differing phases, the two planets are shaped by the same solar radiation, creating a visually striking contrast. The image underscores the precision of the Artemis II mission’s trajectory, which allowed the spacecraft to capture this rare celestial alignment. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are set to return to Earth as part of the Artemis II mission. Their splashdown is scheduled for approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT, marking the conclusion of their journey around the Moon. The mission, which serves as a critical test flight for future lunar exploration, has provided valuable data on spacecraft systems, crew operations, and the challenges of deep-space travel. The return of the astronauts will be broadcast live by NASA, allowing the public to witness the culmination of their mission.#nasa #artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch
Artemis 2 Splashdown: NASA Hails Orion Astronauts' Return from Moon NASA is preparing for the historic return of the Artemis 2 crew to Earth after their unprecedented lunar flyby, with the Orion spacecraft set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. The mission, which marks the first time humans have ventured beyond the Moon’s orbit since the Apollo era, has captivated global audiences with its blend of scientific milestones and human achievement. The astronauts’ re-entry will be a dramatic spectacle, as the capsule will plunge through Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 24,000 miles per hour, its heat shield facing temperatures exceeding 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The Artemis 2 crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency member Jeremy Hansen—will experience a unique view of Earth as they return. During their 10-day mission, the crew will capture both “Earthrise” and “Earthset” moments, documenting the planet’s transition from the lunar horizon. These images, akin to the iconic 1968 Apollo 8 “Earthrise” photograph, are expected to highlight the Moon’s rugged terrain and Earth’s delicate blue glow. NASA officials emphasize that the lighting conditions during the flyby will create striking contrasts, with shadows accentuating lunar features that are often obscured under full illumination. The mission’s timeline includes a critical moon flyby on April 6, during which the crew will witness a rare solar eclipse from beyond the Moon’s orbit. This event, visible only from the far side of the Moon, will provide the astronauts with a unique vantage point to observe the Sun’s partial occultation.#nasa #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch #artemis_2
NASA's Artemis II Mission Successfully Returns to Earth NASA's Artemis II mission completed its historic journey by safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, traveled an unprecedented distance of 4,067,78 kilometers from Earth, setting a new record for the farthest human travel in space. The mission, which lasted 10 days, orbited the Moon and returned to Earth with precision, showcasing the capabilities of modern space technology. The crew included three American astronauts—Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—and one Canadian astronaut, Chris Wiseman. Their successful return to Earth was celebrated as a triumph for NASA and the global space community. The mission’s primary objective was to test the Orion spacecraft’s systems and gather data for future lunar missions, including the planned Artemis III mission, which aims to land humans on the Moon. During the mission, the astronauts captured stunning images of the Moon’s surface and Earth’s horizon, highlighting the beauty of space exploration. These visuals were compared to previous lunar missions, but the use of advanced technology in Artemis II distinguished it as a groundbreaking endeavor. The crew’s ability to navigate the Moon’s orbit and return safely demonstrated the reliability of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield and re-entry systems. The most challenging phase of the mission was the re-entry process, during which the spacecraft traveled at speeds exceeding 40,000 kilometers per hour. Despite the extreme temperatures and forces involved, the crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams swiftly retrieved them.#nasa #artemis_ii #victor_glover #christina_koch #chris_wiseman
NASA Artemis II Mission Crews Return to Earth After Lunar Voyage Four NASA astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday morning (Indian time) after completing a 10-day mission orbiting the Moon. The capsule, carrying Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and rookie Jeremy Hansen, landed near the coast of southern California without incident. The successful return marks the second phase of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars. The Artemis II mission, launched on April 2, 2026, followed a trajectory that took the crew approximately 1.1 million kilometers from Earth. The spacecraft orbited the Moon twice before returning to Earth, a critical test for future lunar landings. The mission’s primary goal was to demonstrate the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which will be used for subsequent Artemis missions. President Donald Trump praised the crew’s achievement on social media, calling the mission “extraordinary” and expressing pride in their success. He announced plans to continue the lunar exploration efforts, with the next phase of the Artemis program targeting a crewed Moon landing in 2028. Trump also hinted at future ambitions, stating that after completing the lunar mission, the focus would shift to Mars. The Artemis II crew included notable figures in space exploration. Commander Reid Wiseman, a former naval pilot, had previously spent 165 days in space during a long-duration mission. Pilot Victor Glover, who joined NASA’s first crewed mission to the International Space Station, brought experience from the ISS.#nasa #artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch
Four Astronauts Orbit the Moon in Historic Mission; Global Space Spending Reaches Record Highs Four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—are currently in lunar orbit, marking the first human presence beyond Earth’s orbit since December 1972. The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, and is now conducting a close flyby of the Moon, passing within 4,067 miles of its surface. During this maneuver, the crew lost radio contact with mission control as they transited the lunar far side, a region never directly observed by human eyes. The mission’s trajectory allows them to glimpse parts of the Moon’s uncharted terrain, a milestone in space exploration. The Artemis II mission is a critical step toward future lunar landings and deeper space exploration. While the crew’s primary focus is on orbital operations, the mission’s broader implications extend to the financial and geopolitical landscape of global space programs. The cost of such endeavors is staggering, with the United States allocating $79.68 billion to government space initiatives in 2024 alone. This figure, derived from data compiled by Euroconsult-EC (now Novaspace), highlights the scale of investment required to sustain human presence in space. The dataset tracks expenditures across 11 countries from 2021 to 2024, covering nations with budgets exceeding $10 million. Russia, the country that initiated the space race with the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961, spent $3.96 billion on space projects in 2024. Despite its historical dominance in space exploration, Russia’s budget has remained largely stagnant since 2021, fluctuating between $3.41 billion and $3.96 billion over four years.#nasa #artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch
The Artemis II crew's salaries might be lower than you expect The Artemis II crew, comprising astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, has successfully completed its historic mission and is now returning to Earth. The crew broke records by traveling the farthest distance from Earth, orbiting the far side of the moon. They are expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. on Friday, April 10. Despite the mission’s groundbreaking nature and the immense risks involved, the astronauts’ salaries remain consistent with those of many lower-profile NASA personnel. NASA’s pay structure for astronauts is based on a standardized scale, with annual salaries for 2024 reported at around $152,258. This figure may have increased slightly over the past two years to reflect adjustments in pay schedules, but it remains unchanged whether astronauts are on Earth or in space. They do not receive additional compensation for overtime or for participating in missions. This salary range is comparable to other high-skilled professions, such as optometrists, software engineering managers, and podiatrists, which also require extensive training but do not involve the same level of personal risk as space travel. Canadian astronauts, including Jeremy Hansen, reportedly earn salaries within a similar range. In 2023, the Canadian Space Agency disclosed that astronauts’ salaries range from $97,100 to $189,600, with the higher end reserved for those who have completed space missions. Hansen, who is making his first journey into space and is the first Canadian to join a moon mission, is likely earning in line with his crewmates. The mission’s significance was highlighted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a call with the crew.#artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch #jeremy_hansen
Artemis II Astronauts Break Record with Historic Lunar Flyby The NASA-led Artemis II mission achieved a milestone on Monday, April 6, 2026, as four astronauts conducted a seven-hour flyby of the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any humans have ever ventured. The mission, which does not include a landing, surpassed the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—executed the flyby as part of their 10-day journey, marking a significant step in humanity’s return to lunar exploration. The flyby began at 6:44 p.m. ET, during which the spacecraft moved behind the moon, cutting off communication with mission control for approximately 40 minutes. This blackout, a common occurrence during such maneuvers, was expected to last until 9:20 p.m. ET, when the flyby concluded. During this time, the astronauts focused on observing the moon’s surface, including features of the far side that had never been seen by human eyes. The mission’s scientific objectives included studying the moon’s topography, particularly the south polar region, where scientists believe water ice deposits could support future lunar settlements. NASA’s Kelsey Young, the science flight operations lead for Artemis II, emphasized the importance of the south polar area. “One of our science objectives is past and future landing sites,” she stated during a news conference. “We are going to have eyes on the south polar region because of the illumination they’ll experience tomorrow.” However, visibility was limited, as the crew would only be able to glimpse the edge of the south polar region within the South Pole-Aitken basin, a massive impact crater on the far side.#nasa #artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch
Artemis II Crew Breaks Human Spaceflight Distance Record During Lunar Flyby On April 6, 2026, NASA’s Artemis II mission achieved a historic milestone as the Orion spacecraft approached the far side of the Moon during its lunar flyby. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970. The spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 4,070 miles during its closest approach to the Moon, allowing for detailed scientific observations. The lunar flyby, which lasted about seven hours, provided the crew with an opportunity to study the Moon’s surface from multiple angles. The science team in mission control, including NASA’s lunar science officer, coordinated with the crew to prioritize targets such as the Orientale basin, a 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the Moon’s near and far sides. Formed 3.8 billion years ago, Orientale retains clear evidence of its origin from a massive impact, offering valuable insights into lunar geology. The crew also focused on the Hertzsprung basin, a 400-mile-wide crater on the far side, which provides a contrast to Orientale due to its degraded features from subsequent impacts. By comparing these two basins, scientists aim to understand how lunar landscapes evolve over geological timescales. During the flyby, the crew conducted a series of observations, sharing color nuances and other details that helped refine the science team’s understanding of the Moon’s mineral composition and surface age. The crew reported shades of browns and blues visible to the naked eye, which could indicate specific mineral deposits.#nasa #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch #jeremy_hansen
NASA's Artemis 2 Astronauts Begin Quarantine Ahead of Lunar Mission NASA’s Artemis II crew has entered a two-week quarantine period as they prepare for a potential launch window beginning April 1. The astronauts, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, began their isolation at Johnson Space Center in Houston, marking a critical step in their mission readiness. The quarantine is part of NASA’s protocol to protect the crew from common illnesses that could jeopardize their health during the 10-day lunar flyby. The crew’s isolation follows months of delays in launching the Artemis II mission, which has faced repeated technical challenges since February. Despite these setbacks, the team remains focused on their goal of completing the first crewed lunar mission in over five decades. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by the crew, is a sealed capsule roughly the size of a studio apartment, creating a confined environment where even a mild illness could pose significant risks. Quarantine procedures for Artemis II involve rigorous medical checks and monitoring to ensure the astronauts remain healthy. Medical teams conduct tests upon entry into isolation and again before launch to detect any signs of illness. The process also includes support from medical staff, technicians, and family members, who are often included in the protective bubble to minimize the risk of contamination. NASA’s quarantine policies have evolved since the Apollo era, when astronauts were isolated for 21 days after returning from the moon to prevent potential exposure to lunar microorganisms. The agency discontinued post-flight quarantine in 1971 following recommendations from an interagency committee. Today’s protocols focus on pre-launch isolation to safeguard the crew during their mission.#nasa #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch #artemis_2
NASA Sets Coverage for Artemis II Moon Mission NASA will provide live coverage of the upcoming Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon, with launch targeted for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT on April 1, within a two-hour window extending through April 6. The mission, NASA’s first crewed flight under the Artemis program, will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon. The flight will use NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to test the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems with humans aboard, a critical step toward future crewed missions. The Artemis II crew will depart from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with live updates and mission events broadcast on NASA’s YouTube channel, NASA+, and Amazon Prime. Detailed coverage of key moments, including launch, lunar flyby, and splashdown, will be available through these platforms. The agency will also stream views from the Orion spacecraft as bandwidth allows. A comprehensive schedule of briefings and events has been outlined, with NASA holding regular updates on mission progress. Pre-launch briefings will include appearances by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, CSA President Lisa Campbell, and the crew members, who will answer media questions during their arrival at Kennedy Space Center. Virtual briefings will also occur as the crew remains in quarantine. Post-launch activities will include a news conference approximately two-and-a-half hours after liftoff, featuring NASA leadership and mission managers. The crew will conduct live conversations with the International Space Station crew and participate in downlink events throughout the mission, with specific times posted on the Artemis blog.#nasa #artemis_ii #reid_wiseman #victor_glover #christina_koch
Meet the four astronauts set to voyage around the Moon The four astronauts selected for the Artemis 2 Moon mission will be the first to travel there in more than five decades. They will become the new faces of American space exploration, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s space program. The crew includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with their Canadian colleague Jeremy Hansen. The mission is scheduled to launch as early as April 1, with the journey lasting approximately 10 days. The astronauts will travel in a loop around the Moon but will not land on its surface. The crew represents a historic shift from the Apollo era, which saw the first and only humans to reach the Moon. This mission includes the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to embark on such a journey. Each astronaut brings a unique background and personal story to the mission. Reid Wiseman, 50, will serve as the mission’s commander. A former US Navy officer, he joined NASA in 2009 after a 27-year career in the military. Wiseman’s path to becoming an astronaut was unexpected; he described it as an “unobtainable dream” until his selection in 2014. He spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station and later became NASA’s chief of the astronaut office. Wiseman’s personal life includes raising his two daughters alone after his wife passed away from cancer in 2020. He has shared his intention to be transparent with his children about the risks of his career, ensuring they understand the potential outcomes of his journey. Victor Glover, 49, will act as the pilot of the Orion spacecraft. A Navy veteran and father of four daughters, Glover was working as a legislative advisor in the US Senate when NASA selected him in 2013.#reid_wiseman #artemis_2 #victor_glover #christina_koch #jeremy_hansen
