HOUSTON: The four astronauts embarking on Nasa´s lunar flyby became on Monday the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye.
The Artemis II team broke the previous record set by 1970´s Apollo 13 mission, which they are expected to surpass by approximately 6,606-kms when they reach this journey´s furthest distance from Earth -- 406,778-kms -- later today.
The astronauts are journeying around the Moon for a monumental flyby, in which they´ll spend more than six hours analysing and documenting lunar surface features. The Nasa mission had swept earlier into the Moon´s gravitational sphere of influence, meaning their spacecraft is in the natural satellite´s neighborhood, with lunar gravity outmuscling Earth´s pull.
The Orion capsule is zipping around the Moon before U-turning and heading back to Earth in a so-called “free-return trajectory,” a return-trip that will take about four days. The astronauts began their landmark day with a message from the late Jim Lovell, who took part in the Apollo 8 and 13 missions and recorded the message shortly before his death.
“It´s a historic day, and I know how busy you´ll be, but don´t forget to enjoy the view,” the Artemis astronauts heard from Lovell. “Welcome to my old neighbourhood,” he said. “I´m proud to pass that torch on to you as you swing around the Moon.”
Swooping around the far side of the Moon, the crew of four will witness previously hidden lunar territory -- the sphere looming large through their capsule windows. The Moon will appear to the astronauts “about the size of a basketball held at arm´s length,” Noah Petro, head of the US space agency´s planetary geology lab, told AFP.
Adding to the historic nature of the mission led by Reid Wiseman, the Artemis II crew includes several firsts. Victor Glover will be the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Christina Koch will be the first woman, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen the first non-American.
There will be a period of around 40 minutes during the flyby where all communication with Artemis II will be cut off as the astronauts pass behind the Moon.
