Orion spacecraft is 111,037 miles from moon.
Lunar flyby scheduled for Monday, April 6.
Crew will observe solar eclipse near moon.
Atlas AI
NASA’s Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, is closing in on the moon after completing a translunar injection burn on Thursday. The flight began with a launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday, setting the crew on a 10-day journey. NASA commander Reid Wiseman is leading the mission, with Victor Glover serving as pilot.
Mission specialists Christina Koch and Canadian space agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen are also aboard.
NASA provided an update on the spacecraft’s position and speed as the mission progressed. As of Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, Orion was about 168,564 miles from Earth and 111,037 miles from the moon. At that time, the spacecraft was traveling at 2,391 mph, according to the agency’s figures. The next major milestone is the expected arrival near the moon on Monday, April 6, at around 1 p.m. ET.
NASA's Artemis II Mission Advances International Human Space Exploration Goals
The successful progress of the Artemis II mission, with its international crew, signifies a critical step in humanity's return to lunar exploration and the establishment of a sustained human presence in space. This mission validates key systems for future deep-space endeavors, involving collaborative efforts beyond national borders.
During the lunar flyby, the astronauts are scheduled to pass within 4,000 miles of the lunar surface. NASA said the crew’s activities during this phase will emphasize photography and observations. The mission plan also includes a period when Orion will move behind the moon, temporarily blocking communications with Earth. Officials said the expected loss of contact will last roughly 30 to 50 minutes.
The flight has also included operational troubleshooting. Shortly after launch, the mission encountered a minor issue involving the Universal Waste Management System, described as the spacecraft’s toilet. NASA said ground teams addressed the problem and the issue was resolved.
NASA said the crew will observe a solar eclipse during the mission, creating additional opportunities for scientific observations. The agency cited potential observations of meteoroid impacts and deep space targets as part of the planned viewing. The eclipse and the communications blackout are both tied to the spacecraft’s trajectory as it passes around the moon.
Beyond the immediate flight milestones, the mission’s progress is being closely watched by stakeholders across government and industry because it involves a high-profile crewed spacecraft operating in deep space. NASA’s updates on navigation, communications windows, and onboard systems provide real-time indicators of how the mission is proceeding against its timeline.
The next scheduled waypoint is the Monday, April 6, lunar approach, followed by the flyby activities and the return leg that completes the 10-day journey.
