Artemis II Crew Witnesses the Far Side of the Moon

Embarking on a historic journey, the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, have ventured to the far side of the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. On the third day of their mission, they experienced the awe-inspiring sight of the Moon's far side, a view that diverges from the familiar lunar landscape seen from Earth. Christina Koch expressed the surreal nature of this experience, noting how it felt distinct from the Moon she knew. The crew captured a remarkable photograph of the Orientale basin, marking the first time this lunar feature has been observed directly by human eyes. As of late Saturday, the Artemis II spacecraft had traveled over 180,000 miles from Earth, showcasing the mission's progress and the vast distances involved in this groundbreaking exploration.