Astronauts Near Moon, Break Distance Record

April 6, 2026

The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time, according to an AFP journalist onsite. "We're going to the Moon!" yelled a spectator. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

The four astronauts aboard Artemis II began their fifth day en route to the Moon on Sunday, already witnessing parts of the lunar surface never before seen by human eyes.

According to NASA, the Orion spacecraft was about 215,000 miles (346,000 kilometres) from Earth and roughly 65,000 miles from the Moon.

This screen grab from NASA’s feed released on April 3, 2026, shows the four Artemis II crew members (L-R) Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist and Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot as they head to orbit the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. The spacecraft lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 18:35 EDT the previous day. (Photo by Handout / NASA TV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / NASA” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

The crew received a ceremonial wake-up call from Charlie Duke, who walked on the Moon in 1972 during Apollo 16.

“Below you on the Moon is a photo of my family. I pray it reminds you that we in America and all of the world are cheering you on. Thanks to you and the whole team on the ground for building on our Apollo legacy with Artemis,” he said.

Earlier, NASA released an image captured by the crew showing the Moon’s Orientale Basin—a massive crater formation described as resembling a bullseye.

“This mission marks the first time the entire basin has been seen with human eyes,” NASA noted, adding that it had previously only been photographed by orbiting spacecraft.

Astronaut Christina Koch, speaking to children via the Canadian Space Agency, described the sight as one of the mission’s highlights.

“It’s very distinctive, and no human eyes had previously seen this crater until today, really, when we were privileged enough to see it,” she said.

Record-setting journey

This handout picture provided by NASA shows the Orion spacecraft captured by a camera mounted on one of its solar array wings during a routine external inspection of the spacecraft on the second day into the Artemis II mission, on April 3, 2026. As Artemis II astronauts forged ahead on their lunar mission, NASA released initial images taken from the Orion spacecraft, including a full portrait of Earth featuring its deep blue oceans and billowing clouds. After a flurry of high-stakes activity including a dramatic blast-off and an engine firing that catapulted them on their historic trajectory to circle the Moon, the four astronauts aboard were able to catch their breath, even as they continued to perform a variety of equipment checks and tests. (Photo by NASA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / NASA” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

The next key milestone is expected as the spacecraft enters the Moon’s gravitational sphere of influence, where lunar gravity begins to outweigh Earth’s pull.

If successful, the astronauts—Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—are set to travel farther from Earth than any humans in history.

Systems tests underway

NASA said the crew has already conducted manual piloting demonstrations and reviewed plans for their lunar flyby, including identifying and photographing surface features.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman said the mission is focused on testing the spacecraft’s systems, particularly its life support capabilities.

“This is the first time astronauts have ever flown on this spacecraft before. That’s what we’re most interested in getting data from,” he said.

As part of day five activities, the astronauts are testing their “survival” suits—used during launch, re-entry, and emergencies such as cabin depressurisation—by running full operational checks.

Although the crew will not land on the Moon, the mission is expected to provide crucial data for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims for a lunar landing in 2027, and Artemis IV, planned for 2028.

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Toyibat Ajose

Toyibat is a highly motivated Mass Communication major and results-oriented professional with a robust foundation in media, education, and communication. Leveraging years of hands-on experience in journalism, she has honed her ability to craft compelling narratives, conduct thorough research, and deliver accurate and engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences.