Astronauts Now Closer to Moon Than to Earth

NASA's Artemis II crew finalizes preparations for historic lunar flyby on Monday.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:41am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays depicting the complex geometric trajectory of the Artemis II spacecraft as it approaches and orbits the Moon, conveying the structural order and precision of this historic spaceflight.The Artemis II spacecraft's intricate orbital path as it prepares to make history with the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era.Chicago Today

The astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, are now more than 280,000 kilometers from Earth and closing in on the Moon. After a successful launch from Florida on Wednesday, the crew is set to reach the 'lunar sphere of influence' and pass behind the far side of the Moon on Monday, marking a major milestone in the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards NASA's goal of returning astronauts to the lunar surface, this time to establish a permanent presence and prepare for future missions to Mars. The successful completion of this flyby will demonstrate the capabilities of the new Orion spacecraft and pave the way for a moon landing as early as 2028.

The details

The four-person crew - Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen - have been busy finalizing preparations for the lunar flyby. After passing the halfway point on Saturday, they are expected to enter the Moon's gravitational influence around 4:30 a.m. GMT on Monday, allowing them to pass behind the far side of the Earth's natural satellite. This 'suspended moment' will be the climax of the risky mission, which has not seen human spaceflight this far since the end of the Apollo program.

  • On Saturday, the Artemis II crew passed the halfway point to the Moon.
  • Around 4:30 a.m. GMT on Monday, the crew is expected to enter the Moon's gravitational influence and pass behind the far side.
  • The Artemis II mission launched from Florida on Wednesday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, one of three American astronauts on board.

Christina Koch

An American astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Victor Glover

An American astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

The Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

NASA

The U.S. space agency overseeing the Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program.

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What they’re saying

“Morale is high.”

— Reid Wiseman, Commander

“It's almost like taking a ball, throwing it at the Moon and it goes around without any noticeable correction to its orbit and comes back to Earth.”

— Derek Buzasi, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics

“If the only problems we talk about concern Microsoft Outlook and toilets, that's a victory.”

— Clayton Swope

What’s next

If the Artemis II mission is successful, NASA is aiming for a moon landing in 2028, before the end of Donald Trump's potential second term. However, experts expect further delays as the moon landing devices are still under development by private companies like those of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in the return of human spaceflight to the Moon, demonstrating the capabilities of the new Orion spacecraft and paving the way for a permanent lunar presence. The successful completion of this risky flyby will be a significant step towards NASA's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the decade.