NASA’s Artemis II mission has reached a pivotal moment, marking what is arguably the most dramatic phase of its lunar flyby. The Orion spacecraft successfully navigated behind the Moon, achieved the closest approach to the lunar surface, and reestablished communication with Earth following a brief but expected period of signal loss. This sequence, which transitioned from an “Earthset” to an “Earthrise,” was a crucial component of this groundbreaking mission. Notably, during these events, the crew extended their distance from Earth to a record-breaking 252,756 miles, setting a new benchmark for human spaceflight.
After several hours of scientific observations during the flyby, the sequence began at 6:41 p.m. EDT as the crew witnessed the Earth disappearing below the Moon’s horizon — an event known as the “Earthset.” This signaled that the Orion spacecraft would lose communication with Mission Control because the Moon would block all radio signals. In preparation for this blackout, Artemis II pilot Victor Glover sent a heartfelt message to those watching the historic event live. “As we prepare to go out of radio communication, we’re still going to feel your love from Earth,” said Glover. “And to all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you, from the Moon. We will see you on the other side.”
The planned communication drop occurred around 6:44 p.m. EDT. As Orion moved behind the Moon, the four astronauts experienced nearly 40 minutes of silence with Mission Control. While it may sound alarming, this “loss of signal” is a routine occurrence in lunar missions, dating back to the Apollo era. During this time, the spacecraft reached its closest point to the Moon at approximately 7:00 p.m. EDT, passing just 4,067 miles (6,550 km) above the lunar surface. Shortly after, the Artemis II crew achieved their farthest point from Earth at 252,756 miles — a distance that surpasses the previous record set by Apollo 13 by 4,111 miles.
At 7:24 p.m. EDT, communications were restored as Orion emerged from behind the Moon. The Deep Space Network quickly reacquired the signal, reconnecting the crew with Mission Control. The sequence concluded dramatically with an “Earthrise,” as the Artemis II astronauts gazed upon our planet reappearing from behind the Moon.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend the Artemis II crew for their achievement in setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth. Speaking to Mission Control, Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch delivered a powerful message:
“Houston, we have you the same, and it is so great to hear from Earth again. To Asia, Africa and Oceana, we are looking back at you. We hear you can look up and see the moon right now. We see you too. When we burned this bird towards the moon, I said that we do not leave Earth, we choose it, and that is true. We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again, build science outposts. We will drive rovers. We will do radio astronomy. We will found companies. We will bolster industry. We will inspire, but ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”
Now, the astronauts are preparing to return home over the next 3–4 days, with a planned splashdown off the coast of San Diego. “All of your flight controllers and your flight director have flipped their Artemis II patches around,” said Jenni Gibbons, the capsule communicator in Mission Control. “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Before their return, the Artemis II crew will also witness a solar eclipse from the far side of the Moon, becoming the first humans to observe an eclipse from space.
Additional Highlights from the Mission
- The Artemis II crew named two Moon craters “Integrity” and “Carroll” in tribute during their lunar flyby.
- NASA is working to resolve reports from the crew about a “burning smell” and issues with wastewater venting.
