Artemis Astronauts Face 40-Minute Blackout on Dark Side of Moon

NASA crew will lose contact with Earth during critical lunar flyby

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:04pm

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The Artemis II mission will see NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen travel over 250,000 miles from Earth to perform a flyby of the moon. During this historic journey, the crew will face a nerve-wracking 40-minute communications blackout as they travel behind the lunar surface, unable to contact mission control in Houston.

Why it matters

This blackout period represents a critical moment of isolation and risk for the Artemis II astronauts, who will be more distant from Earth than any human has traveled since the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. If any issues arise during this blackout, the crew will be completely cut off from support on the ground, heightening the tension and danger of this deep-space maneuver.

The details

As the Artemis II spacecraft reaches its closest approach to the moon at around 7:05 PM EST, the lunar body will obstruct communications between the Orion capsule and NASA's mission control in Houston. This 40-minute blackout period will leave the astronauts completely isolated, unable to alert ground control if any problems occur. Previous Apollo missions experienced similar communication losses, with astronaut Michael Collins reporting feeling 'truly alone' during a 48-minute blackout in 1969.

  • At around 6:45 PM EST, the Artemis II crew will enter a communications blackout as they travel behind the moon.
  • The blackout period is expected to last approximately 40 minutes.
  • The Artemis II spacecraft will reach its closest approach to the lunar surface at around 7:05 PM EST.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut and pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian astronaut and mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Michael Collins

Astronaut who orbited the moon alone during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, experiencing a 48-minute communications blackout.

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What they’re saying

“When we're behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let's take that as an opportunity. Let's pray, hope, send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot

“I am totally in awe of the Artemis II astronauts and their bravery.”

— Darryl Seligman, Michigan State University astronomy professor

What’s next

If the Artemis II lunar flyby is successful, it will pave the way for an actual moon landing, which NASA has planned for 2028 on the Artemis IV mission.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a critical milestone in humanity's return to the moon, but the 40-minute communications blackout as the spacecraft travels behind the lunar surface poses significant risks and challenges for the brave astronauts onboard. This isolation underscores the immense bravery and skill required for deep-space exploration.