Artemis II crew sets new distance record

Astronauts surpass Apollo 13's historic journey record

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:10pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II spacecraft's journey around the Moon.The Artemis II spacecraft's record-breaking journey around the Moon represents a new era of deep space exploration.Los Angeles Today

The crew of the Artemis II mission on Monday broke the distance record previously set by the Apollo 13 mission, becoming the farthest humans to travel from Earth. The Artemis II spacecraft is currently on a journey around the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

Why it matters

This new distance record for human spaceflight is a significant milestone for the Artemis program, which is the successor to the iconic Apollo missions. Surpassing the record set by Apollo 13 demonstrates the continued advancements in space technology and the capabilities of modern spacecraft to travel deeper into space.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft reached a maximum distance of 400,171 kilometers (248,655 miles) from Earth on Monday, exceeding the previous record of 399,936 kilometers (248,655 miles) set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The Artemis II mission is an uncrewed test flight that will pave the way for future Artemis missions to land astronauts on the Moon.

  • Artemis II spacecraft reached maximum distance on April 6, 2026.
  • Apollo 13 set the previous distance record in 1970.

The players

Artemis II

The uncrewed test flight of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon.

Apollo 13

The historic 1970 NASA mission that set the previous record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis and Apollo programs.

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What they’re saying

“This new distance record is a testament to the incredible progress we've made in space exploration since the Apollo era. The Artemis program is paving the way for even greater achievements in the years to come.”

— Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The Artemis II mission will continue its journey around the Moon before returning to Earth, setting the stage for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission's new distance record is a significant milestone for the Artemis program, demonstrating the continued advancements in space technology and the capabilities of modern spacecraft to travel deeper into space, paving the way for future lunar exploration.