Artemis II Completes Historic Lunar Flyby, Sets New Distance Record

NASA's first crewed mission to the moon since Apollo 13 captures unprecedented views of the lunar far side.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:22am

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A highly structured abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sage, and indigo, depicting the Artemis II spacecraft's journey around the moon through sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the structural order of the universe without using any text or symbols.The Artemis II mission's historic lunar flyby provides a new perspective on humanity's return to the moon, capturing unprecedented views of the lunar far side.Houston Today

The Artemis II astronauts have successfully completed a record-breaking trip around the moon, providing the first up-close views of the lunar far side since the Apollo era. The six-hour flyby marked a major milestone in NASA's return to the moon, paving the way for a planned landing near the south pole in just two years.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a significant step forward in humanity's exploration of the moon, building on the legacy of the Apollo program. The unprecedented views and data gathered during this flyby will help inform future lunar landing and exploration efforts, advancing our scientific understanding of the moon.

The details

The Artemis II crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, traveled farther into space than any human since the Apollo 13 mission. During the six-hour lunar flyby, the astronauts captured stunning images and conducted scientific observations of the far side of the moon, which has never been witnessed up close by human eyes.

  • The Artemis II astronauts completed their lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The mission surpassed the distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo era, paving the way for a planned landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

Apollo 13

The previous record holder for the farthest human spaceflight from Earth, set in 1970.

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What they’re saying

“The views of the far side of the moon that the Artemis II crew is capturing are truly unprecedented. This mission is a major step forward in our return to the lunar surface.”

— Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue their journey home, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean in the coming days. NASA will analyze the data and imagery gathered during the mission to inform the Artemis III landing, scheduled for 2028.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II lunar flyby marks a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, reviving human exploration of the moon and paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface. The unprecedented views and data collected during this historic journey will help advance our scientific understanding of the moon and inform the next steps in humanity's return to the lunar frontier.