(Photo credit to NASA)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
Happy Lunar Flyby Day!
After watching the Artemis II lunar flyby, there was so much to talk about. Thanks to Netflix, viewers were in awe as they watched the crew of the Integrity, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, witness and report the most incredible descriptions of the lunar landscape. The moon grew brighter and more defined as the spacecraft zoomed closer. The Integrity traveled at 1,071 MPH towards the Moon, and it was as close as NASA’s plan allowed. It was one thing to watch adventures to the moon on TV shows like “Space:1999” and “For All Mankind,” but it was clearly another to watch it in reality. Although many are disappointed that a landing couldn’t be made just yet, this was an absolutely incredible feat. Earlier today, the spacecraft surpassed the Apollo 13 distance record of 248,655 miles from Earth. Jeremy Hanson mentioned that they were hoping that the record just set would be quickly broken by future explorers. Let us hope for that!
Viewers tuned in on April 6, 2026, thanks to Netflix’s live broadcast, and watched in awe as the crew carved an arc around the Moon. Traveling at 1,071 miles per hour toward the Moon, they witnessed the lunar landscape transform from a distant glow into a rugged moon of hills, valleys, and craters. Lunar Flyby Day, as we’ve named it (doubt NASA will mind), also marked a new milestone: it became the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. Despite that vast distance, their closest approach skimmed roughly 4,066 miles above the lunar surface. This flyby served as the first crewed test flight of Orion, and it delivered an abundance of observations that felt both scientific and poetic.
Live feeds from cameras mounted on Orion’s solar array wings allowed viewers to experience the flyby alongside the crew. Mission Control in Houston provided continuous updates, including altitude readings near 4,067 miles. At one striking moment, Commander Wiseman saw Earth framed in one window and the Moon in another. Earth appeared as a small crescent, a fragile sliver hanging in black space.
The crew carefully studied the Moon’s albedo, which was the amount of light reflected from its surface. They documented structure, texture, and brightness while snapping photos with 80–400 mm zoom lenses, rotating positions at the windows, and even using their iPhones. With their cabin lights turned off, the only illumination came from the Moon itself. The brightness was so intense that adjusting to the dark interior took time, creating a surreal glow that filled the spacecraft.
Their observations highlighted the ruggedness of the far side. They repeatedly referenced the Terminator, which is the jagged moving line dividing lunar day and night. One of the most amazing observations was the colors! They took note of how the albedo (the amount of light reflected from its surface) made ridges appear dusted with snow. They couldn’t help but notice variations in color. Browns and greenish hues appeared across the topography, especially as the spacecraft drew closer. The Moon, often thought of as gray, revealed a surprising warmth in tone.
Credit to NASAThroughout the flyby, the crew worked closely with scientists, including Dr. Sarah Noble, discussing how Artemis science supports future missions. Their observations help identify potential landing sites, analyze lunar soil, understand radiation environments, and study craters that may contain water resources near the lunar south pole. Despite the intensity of the mission, the astronauts took turns at the windows, supported one another’s reporting, and even paused to enjoy rehydrated lunches that included beef and vegetarian options. NASA has come a long way from that astronaut ice cream of the 70s.
During the flyby, the crew also experienced a LOS (loss of signal) as they passed behind the Moon. For roughly 40 minutes, contact with Earth disappeared, the first time humans had lost communication with Earth. The crew continued observing a solar eclipse, watching Earth set, and looking for impact flashes and lofted lunar dust. Just before the blackout, they reflected on the Apollo missions and expressed honor at carrying exploration forward.
This wasn’t just a moment for science geeks; it was a moment for people around the world to witness and to hope for big things for the future. The plans are that Artemis III will be a crewed demonstration in low Earth orbit to test docking procedures and integrated systems of commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Artemis IV in early 2028 is set to be the first crewed lunar landing since 1972. Artemis V in late 2028 is the second planned crew landing. Artemis VI and Beyond (2029+) aims for a steady cadence of at least one crewed landing every year, with a long-term goal of increasing to every six months as commercial capabilities mature. They have an Artemis Base Camp at the South Pole that will include semi-habitable shelters and habitats. They’ll have rovers and other vehicles. Hopefully, this will excite and inspire young scientists to work for NASA.
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