After swinging around the moon and capturing breathtaking pictures of Earth’s celestial companion, the four astronauts are starting their journey home. As AccuWeather reports, on Tuesday, Orion left the lunar sphere of influence, meaning the spacecraft is now feeling stronger gravitational effects from the Earth rather than the moon.
The Dark Side of the Moon
NASA released incredible images taken from the Orion spacecraft as astronauts Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen and Pilot Victor Glover flew farther away from the Earth than any human has before. The newly-released images show the moon eclipsing the Earth, a view that can only be witnessed from the far side of the moon.
The astronauts were ready for this moment with eclipse glasses, identical to what millions of people used for the solar eclipses visible across North America in 2023 and 2024. “This was the first use of eclipse glasses at the Moon to safely view a solar eclipse,” NASA said.
Prior to that, the crew took shots that showed off a breathtaking Earthset as seen from the far side of the moon — a perspective few humans have ever seen. “The image is reminiscent of the iconic Earthrise image taken by astronaut Bill Anders 58 years earlier as the Apollo 8 crew flew around the Moon,” NASA said.
Solar Eclipse… from Space
The Artemis II crew experienced a rare solar eclipse Monday after emerging from the far side of the moon, offering a view no one else on Earth could see in person.
As Orion remained in darkness on the live video feed, the four astronauts observed the partial eclipse firsthand, wearing protective glasses during peak phases. The contrast between the spacecraft’s shadowed exterior and the crew’s vantage point highlighted just how unique the moment was. “It is quite an impressive sight,” NASA astronaut Victor Glover said. He came back a few minutes later to add: “What we’re seeing, we’re just not picking up with the cameras … this just went sci-fi … unreal.”
Every Moment Makes History
After about 40 minutes without contact, communication was restored between NASA and the Artemis II crew as the Orion spacecraft emerged from the far side of the moon. “Integrity, we have you,” mission control said as contact was reestablished. “Houston, we have you the same and it is so great to hear from Earth again,” NASA astronaut Christina Koch replied.
The temporary loss of signal was expected due to limitations of the Deep Space Network while Orion traveled behind the moon. Contact resumed as planned once the spacecraft returned to view of Earth.
During the blackout, the astronauts reached a historic milestone, traveling 252,756 miles from Earth — the farthest distance humans have ever journeyed from our home planet. The previous record of 248,655 miles was set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.
A Touching Dedication
Moments after the milestone, CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the crew had begun suggesting names for “fresh craters” spotted on the moon earlier in the day. One feature along the boundary between the near side and far side was proposed to be named after Carroll, the late wife of NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, who died of cancer in 2020 as plans for the mission were taking shape.
Shortly before the record was broken, Wiseman learned his daughters and other family members were watching from the mission control viewing deck. He formed a heart with his hands toward the camera and showed a bracelet made by his daughters that he is wearing throughout the mission.
What’s Next?
Orion will take the next major milestone in its mission when it fires up its engines. “Marking their first push home, Orion’s thrusters are planned to ignite at 9:03 p.m. for the first of three return trajectory correction burns. This maneuver will adjust the spacecraft’s path and refine Orion’s course toward Earth,” NASA said. Orion is scheduled to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday evening.
NASA’s record-breaking astronauts are homeward bound, with all eyes on the weather conditions for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean this Friday. AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting favorable weather to welcome NASA’s Artemis II crew home as their historic mission ends.
After a roughly 10-day journey around the moon, the Orion spacecraft is scheduled to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 25,000 mph before descending by parachute into waters off the coast of San Diego around 5 p.m. PDT. The timing and location of splashdown can shift slightly as the mission progresses, but current projections place recovery operations in a relatively calm stretch of the eastern Pacific.
Conditions in the splashdown zone are expected to be favorable, with manageable seas and limited weather hazards, both key factors for ensuring a safe return for astronauts and recovery crews. Calm winds and lower wave heights are especially critical, as rough seas could complicate both the capsule’s landing and the U.S. Navy-led retrieval effort waiting nearby.
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