Artemis II Aims to Break Apollo 13's Distance Record in Lunar Flyby

The upcoming moon mission will offer new views of the lunar far side and a total solar eclipse.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:40pm

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The Artemis II astronauts are preparing for a historic lunar flyby that will take them farther from Earth than any human has traveled since the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. During the approximately six-hour flyby on Monday, the four-person crew will capture unprecedented views of the moon's far side and witness a total solar eclipse, all while chasing Apollo 13's maximum distance record.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the start of a new era of lunar exploration, with the ultimate goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the moon. By breaking Apollo 13's distance record and providing new perspectives of the lunar surface, this mission will help pave the way for future Artemis flights that aim to land astronauts on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended.

The details

During the flyby, the Artemis II astronauts will split into pairs and take turns capturing the lunar views out their windows with both professional-grade cameras and personal smartphones. They will also be on the lookout for any unusual solar activity during the total solar eclipse, which will not be visible from Earth. The mission will be out of direct communication with Mission Control for about 40 minutes while the spacecraft is behind the moon, but NASA is confident that 'physics will absolutely get us back to the front side of the moon'.

  • Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026.
  • The lunar flyby is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2026.
  • The capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific near San Diego on April 10, 2026, nine days after launch.

The players

Artemis II Astronauts

A crew of three Americans and one Canadian who are the first to embark on a human mission to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

Judd Frieling

The flight director for the Artemis II mission.

Kelsey Young

A NASA geologist who has prepared lunar geography flashcards for the Artemis II astronauts to study before the flight.

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What they’re saying

“We'll get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force.”

— Judd Frieling, Flight Director

“They've practiced for many, many, many months on visualizations of the moon, and getting their eyes on the real thing, I'm really, really looking forward to them bringing the moon a little closer to home on Monday.”

— Kelsey Young, NASA Geologist

What’s next

After the Artemis II mission, NASA plans to send the Artemis III mission to the lunar surface, with the goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the moon.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in the new era of lunar exploration, as the astronauts will not only break Apollo 13's distance record but also provide unprecedented views of the moon's far side and witness a total solar eclipse from their unique vantage point. This mission lays the groundwork for future Artemis flights that aim to land astronauts on the moon and build a sustainable presence there.