Artemis II shatters distance record

The Orion spacecraft reached a maximum distance of 252,760 miles from Earth during its journey behind the far side of the moon.

During the mission, the crew experienced a planned 40-minute communications blackout before re-establishing contact with Mission Control in Houston.

The astronauts observed a rare solar eclipse from their unique vantage point and named a lunar crater in honor of a late family member.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in NASA's long-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.