The Artemis II astronauts are now on their return journey to Earth after completing a key phase of their mission. Communication with mission control was successfully restored following a planned 40-minute blackout as the spacecraft passed behind the Moon. (PICS/ AFP, NASA)
Updated On: 2026-04-07 10:35 AM IST
Compiled by : Anushree Gaikwad
A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void
The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA's first age of exploration more than half a century ago
In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA's Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles (6,600 km) farther than Apollo 13
Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August. Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their fly-around began
The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon.
