Artemis II crew sets new human distance record beyond 250,000 miles from Earth

NASA's Artemis II mission has surpassed the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:28pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise celestial spirals, conceptually representing the complex orbital mechanics and gravitational forces involved in the Artemis II mission's record-breaking journey to the far side of the Moon.The Artemis II mission's record-breaking journey to the far side of the Moon pushes the boundaries of human space exploration.Washington Today

The crew aboard NASA's Artemis II mission has officially broken the record for the furthest any human has ventured into space. The Artemis II crew has traveled more than 250,000 miles from Earth, venturing to the far side of the moon, surpassing the previous record of 248,655 miles set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Why it matters

This new distance record set by the Artemis II crew is a significant milestone in human space exploration, pushing the boundaries of how far humans have traveled from Earth. It demonstrates the continued advancements in space technology and the capabilities of modern spacecraft to venture deeper into space than ever before.

The details

Artemis II officially broke the previous distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 at approximately 1:56 p.m. EST on Monday, April 6, 2026. The Artemis II crew has been traveling to the far side of the moon as part of their mission, which involves testing the new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft in preparation for future Artemis missions that will eventually land astronauts on the lunar surface.

  • Artemis II officially broke the record at approximately 1:56 p.m. EST on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The previous record was long held by Apollo 13 in 1970, which was 248,655 miles away from Earth.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a sustainable presence on and around the lunar surface.

Apollo 13

The seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon, which set the previous record for the furthest distance from Earth in 1970.

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What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue their mission, testing the capabilities of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft as they travel around the far side of the Moon. This record-breaking distance will help pave the way for future Artemis missions that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission's new distance record beyond 250,000 miles from Earth represents a significant milestone in human space exploration, showcasing the continued advancements in space technology and the ability of modern spacecraft to venture deeper into space than ever before. This achievement lays the groundwork for future Artemis missions that will eventually land astronauts on the Moon.