Houston, Texas – For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts are set to fly around the Moon on Monday as part of Artemis 2, marking a major milestone in humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
The lunar flyby, expected to last approximately seven hours, will be broadcast live by NASA across multiple platforms, including its website and streaming services, with real-time commentary from both astronauts and Mission Control.
However, due to the vast distance from Earth farther than any human has previously traveled NASA has cautioned that livestream quality may fluctuate.
Communication Blackout Raises Tension
A key moment in the mission will be a 40-minute communication blackout as the spacecraft passes behind the Moon, temporarily cutting off all contact with Earth.
“It’ll be exciting, you know, in a slightly scary way, when they go behind the moon,” said Derek Buzasi, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago.
“During the Apollo missions… we all held our breaths a little bit.”
A Mission of Historic Firsts
Artemis 2 represents a shift in representation in space exploration. The crew includes Christina Koch, the first woman to travel to the Moon, Victor Glover, the first Black astronaut to do so, and Jeremy Hansen, the first non-American on a lunar mission.
Shortly before the flyby, the crew is also expected to set a new distance record, surpassing that of Apollo 13 by more than 6,600 kilometers and reaching approximately 406,772 kilometers from Earth.
A New Perspective of the Moon
Unlike Apollo missions, which flew relatively close to the lunar surface, Artemis 2 will maintain a greater distance, allowing astronauts to view the Moon in its entirety.
“The Moon will appear… about the size of a basketball held at arm’s length,” said Noah Petro, head of NASA’s planetary geology lab.
This trajectory will enable the crew to observe both polar regions and the far side of the Moon—areas historically unseen by human eyes in full view.
Rare Celestial Phenomena
Toward the end of the flyby, astronauts will witness a rare solar eclipse lasting approximately 53 minutes, offering a unique opportunity to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.
They will also monitor potential meteorite impacts on the Moon’s surface, contributing to ongoing scientific research into lunar geology and the broader solar system.
Revisiting the Iconic “Earthrise”
The mission could also recreate one of the most iconic images in space history the “Earthrise” photograph first captured during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The Artemis 2 crew is expected to observe Earth disappearing and re-emerging from behind the Moon, offering a similar perspective.
As the world watches, Artemis 2 signals a new era of lunar exploration, blending historic milestones, scientific discovery, and a renewed global interest in space travel.
