Four astronauts aboard Artemis II crossed into uncharted territory Monday, breaking the farthest-from-Earth distance ever traveled by humans. The crew surpassed Apollo 13's 248,655-mile record, a benchmark that had stood for more than five decades.
The mission will push even deeper into space. Artemis II is expected to reach its maximum distance of 252,760 miles just after 7 p.m. ET tonight, sending the crew further from home than any previous human spaceflight.
The astronauts are now beginning a seven-hour lunar orbit and observation period. At 6:44 p.m. ET, they will experience a 40-minute radio blackout as they pass over the dark side of the Moon, losing communication with Earth during that stretch.
Mission planners have lined up several historic moments for the crew. They will witness a solar eclipse from their vantage point, with the Moon blocking the Sun. The team also plans to photograph a modern version of "Earthrise," one of the most iconic images from the Apollo era.
The Apollo 13 mission holds special meaning for this moment. That 1970 flight, famous for its harrowing emergency return to Earth, came closer to the Moon than any crewed spacecraft before or since. Its distance record endured for 55 years until Artemis II surpassed it this week.
Jim Lovell, who flew on both Apollo 8 and the troubled Apollo 13 mission, sent a recorded message to the Artemis II crew before his death in 2015. "Welcome to my old neighborhood," Lovell said in the message. He urged the astronauts not to let their busy schedule overshadow the historic moment. "It's a historic day and I know how busy you'll be, but don't forget to enjoy the view."
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