Artemis II Astronauts Aim to Break Apollo 13's Distance Record on Moon Flyby

The four-person crew will swing around the lunar surface without landing, capturing unprecedented views of the far side.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:22pm

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Launched on April 1, the Artemis II astronauts are set to become humanity's farthest emissaries as they swing around the moon on Monday without stopping. The three Americans and one Canadian will chase after Apollo 13's maximum range from Earth, aiming to exceed that record by about 4,000 miles. During the roughly six-hour lunar flyby, the crew will capture views of the moon's far side and witness a total solar eclipse, relaying their observations back to Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed trip to the moon since the Apollo era, paving the way for a new era of lunar exploration that aims to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. The mission's record-breaking distance and unique vantage point will provide valuable scientific data and insights to help achieve that goal.

The details

The Artemis II astronauts will follow the same 'figure-eight' path as Apollo 13, using the gravity of Earth and the moon to slingshot back home without landing. While they won't set foot on the lunar surface, the crew will split into pairs to capture high-quality photographs and video of the moon's far side, which was too dark or difficult for previous Apollo astronauts to observe. They will also witness a total solar eclipse, using their unique vantage point to study the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona.

  • 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

NASA's second crewed mission to the moon as part of the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

Apollo 13

The 1970 NASA mission that was aborted due to an oxygen tank rupture, but still managed to set the record for the farthest distance from Earth reached by human spaceflight.

Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert

The three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 who reached a maximum distance of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) from Earth before making their life-saving U-turn.

Christina Koch

One of the four astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission, who noted that breaking Apollo 13's distance record is an important milestone that merges the past with the present and future of lunar exploration.

Kelsey Young

A NASA geologist who helped prepare the Artemis II astronauts by creating lunar geography flashcards for them 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 through a series of future Artemis missions.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in the new era of lunar exploration, as the astronauts will not only break the distance record set by Apollo 13, but also capture unprecedented views of the moon's far side and witness a total solar eclipse from their unique vantage point. This mission paves the way for future Artemis missions that aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.