Artemis II Astronauts to Witness Rare Total Solar Eclipse During Lunar Flyby

The four-person crew will become the farthest humans from Earth in history during their historic mission around the Moon.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:22am

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The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed flight to the Moon since the Apollo era, is set to reach a major milestone on Monday, April 6th. As the Orion spacecraft enters the Moon's sphere of influence, the four-person crew - three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency - will witness a rare total solar eclipse, an event that will only be visible from their position in space and not from Earth. This historic eclipse is just one part of the Artemis II lunar flyby, which will also see the astronauts become the farthest humans from Earth in history, surpassing the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The total solar eclipse that the crew will witness is a unique opportunity to study the Sun's corona and other celestial phenomena from the unique vantage point of lunar orbit. Additionally, the crew's record-breaking distance from Earth underscores the ambition and technical capabilities of the Artemis program as it paves the way for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.

The details

During the lunar flyby, the Orion spacecraft will perform a series of maneuvers, including a 17.5-second engine burn on Sunday, April 5th to refine its trajectory. The crew will also test their emergency spacesuits and prepare for the total solar eclipse, which will occur between 8:35 PM and 9:32 PM EDT on April 6th. From their position in lunar orbit, the astronauts will see the Moon pass directly in front of the Sun, blocking its light and revealing the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona. They may also observe meteoroid strikes on the lunar surface, as well as distant stars and galaxies.

  • On April 5th at 11:03 PM EDT, Orion's engines were fired for 17.5 seconds to refine the spacecraft's trajectory to the Moon.
  • At 12:41 AM EDT on April 6th, the Orion spacecraft entered the Moon's sphere of influence, where the Moon's gravity became the dominant force controlling its trajectory.
  • The total solar eclipse will occur between 8:35 PM and 9:32 PM EDT on April 6th, as the Orion spacecraft passes behind the Moon.
  • At 1:56 PM EDT on April 6th, the Artemis II crew will surpass the record for humans' farthest distance from Earth, previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
  • Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, off San Diego, is expected on Friday, April 10th.

The players

Artemis II Crew

The four-person crew of the Artemis II mission, consisting of three NASA astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch - as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis program and the Artemis II mission.

Canadian Space Agency

The Canadian government's space agency, which is contributing an astronaut to the Artemis II crew.

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What they’re saying

“We are now falling to the moon rather than rising away from Earth. It is an amazing milestone!”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist

What’s next

After the lunar flyby and total solar eclipse, the Artemis II crew will begin their journey back to Earth, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean, off San Diego, on Friday, April 10th.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant step forward in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The crew's historic journey, including witnessing a rare total solar eclipse from lunar orbit and becoming the farthest humans from Earth, underscores the ambition and technical capabilities of this new era of lunar exploration.