This is a key stage of the program aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface.
The crew of “Artemis-2” is setting a record for distance from Earth during its flight around the Moon, while NASA is broadcasting the mission live. This flight marks humanity’s first step back to the Moon in over 50 years.
This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing NASA’s broadcast.
Read also: Instead of professional cameras: NASA crew captured unique images of Earth on an iPhone.
During the flight, the team is expected to set a record for distance from Earth. Around 02:00 Kyiv time, the spacecraft will pass behind the Moon and will lose contact with Earth for approximately 40 minutes, as the satellite will block radio signals.
After that, around 03:35, the crew will be able to witness a 53-minute solar eclipse. Thus, the flyby of the Moon will not only be a technically significant stage of the mission but also one of the most spectacular moments of the flight.
What is known about the “Artemis-2” mission
Recall that on the night of April 2, NASA successfully launched the “Artemis-2” mission – the first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years. The Orion spacecraft launched from Florida for an eight-day orbit around the Earth’s satellite and return to Earth.
Already during the flight, the mission encountered its first technical difficulties: the crew reported a malfunction in the spacecraft’s toilet after a signal indicated a controller issue. Following this, the astronauts reached out to specialists on Earth.
Halfway to the Moon, NASA also released the first photos of Earth taken by mission commander Reid Wiseman after the maneuver that placed Orion on a lunar trajectory.
Source: rbc.ua +rel=”nofollow”
