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Artemis II Hits 2/3 Mark in Historic Moon Mission with Diverse Crew

NASA's Artemis II mission has reached the two-thirds point of its journey to the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in over five decades. The four-person crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, is practicing manual spacecraft control ahead of their upcoming lunar flyby. The mission includes historic milestones, with astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover set to become the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, to travel to the Moon. The mission will set a new distance record for human spaceflight before splashing down in the Pacific on April 10.

Key Points: Artemis II Reaches 2/3 Point in First Crewed Moon Mission in 50+ Years

  • Mission is first crewed moonbound flight in over 53 years
  • Crew includes first female and first Black astronauts to the moon
  • Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is first non-US citizen on lunar mission
  • Orion spacecraft practicing manual control ahead of lunar flyby
  • Mission will set a new distance record for human spaceflight
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Artemis II hits 2/3rd mark of journey to moon

NASA's Artemis II mission hits the two-thirds mark of its lunar journey. Crew of four astronauts, including first woman and Black astronaut, practices manual control.

"There are no words. - Reid Wiseman"

Washington DC, April 5

The Artemis II has hit the "two thirds" mark of its journey to the Moon on Sunday, NASA said in a statement.

The event occurred during flight day four.

In a post on X, NASA said, "Artemis II just hit the "two thirds" mark of the journey to the Moon. During Flight Day 4, the astronauts aboard Orion went over plans to study the Moon during their upcoming lunar flyby and are currently practicing manually controlling the spacecraft."

Reid Wiseman, an Astronaut aboard Artemis II said, "There are no words."

Artemis II astronauts began their historic lunar fly-around to push deeper into space than even the Apollo astronauts on Saturday.

The three Americans and one Canadian will reach their destination Monday, photographing the lunar far side on their way. It's the first moonbound crew in more than 53 years, picking up where NASA's Apollo program left off, Politico reported.

Artemis II was poised to set a distance record for humans, traveling more than 252,000 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon and heading home without stopping or entering lunar orbit. The record is currently held by Apollo 13.

The Canadian Space Agency celebrated the country's role in the mission, speaking from Quebec with astronaut Jeremy Hansen as he headed toward his lunar rendezvous. Hansen is the first non-US citizen to fly to the moon, as per Politico.

"Today he is making history for Canada," said Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell. "As we watch him taking this bold step into the unknown, let his journey remind us that Canada's future is written by those who dare to reach for more."

Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch are the world's first lunar astronauts since Apollo 17's crew of three in 1972. Koch and Glover are the first female and first Black astronauts to the moon, respectively, as per Politico.

The mission, ending with a Pacific splashdown on April 10, is the first step in NASA's bold plans for a sustainable moon base. The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Amazing milestone! The diversity in this crew is particularly heartening to see. Christina Koch and Victor Glover making history as the first woman and first Black astronaut to go to the moon is a giant leap for representation in STEM fields everywhere, including here in India.
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Rohit P
Wah! The technology and precision required for this is mind-boggling. Hitting the two-thirds mark perfectly shows how far we've come since Apollo. But I do wonder about the cost. With so many pressing needs on Earth, is this the best use of such vast resources? Just a thought.
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Priya S
So exciting! My kids are following this mission live. It's creating a new generation of space enthusiasts. The fact that a Canadian astronaut is on board is great—shows it's becoming a more international effort. Maybe one day we'll see an Indian astronaut on a lunar mission too!
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Michael C
The engineering behind this is phenomenal. Traveling over 252,000 miles without stopping at the moon is a huge test of systems and human endurance. This data will be invaluable for the planned moon base. A sustainable presence there could unlock so much science.
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Nisha Z
"There are no words" – that quote from the astronaut says it all. The sheer scale and beauty of such a journey is humbling. It pushes the boundaries of what humanity can achieve. Jai Vigyan! 🇮🇳 Let's hope this spirit of exploration benefits all humankind.

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