SCIENCE

Artemis II completes lunar flyby, contacts ISS en route

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Houston: Artemis II astronauts completed a lunar flyby and on Tuesday placed an audio call to colleagues aboard the International Space Station while returning to Earth, marking the first moonship-to-spaceship radio link and transmitting imagery including an Earthset photo sent by commander Reid Wiseman. The Orion capsule later passed the point where Earth's gravity again outweighs the Moon's pull; the four-person crew—Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen—are scheduled to splash down off San Diego on Friday, with NASA recovery and post-mission analysis to follow.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Late 1960s–1970s: NASA's Apollo missions conducted crewed lunar missions (historical context).
Early April (mission week): Artemis II executed a crewed lunar flyby and transmitted imagery.
Tuesday: Artemis II astronauts initiated audio contact with ISS while 230,000 miles from Earth.
Shortly after: Orion passed the gravity point where Earth's pull outweighs the Moon's pull en route home.
Friday: Crew scheduled to splash down off San Diego with recovery and post-mission analysis planned.

Why This Matters to You

Space missions like Artemis II inspire us and our kids to dream big. They also push technology forward, which can trickle down to everyday life. Keep an eye on NASA's updates. Share the excitement with your family.

The Bottom Line

Artemis II's successful lunar flyby and first moonship-to-spaceship radio link is a big leap for space exploration. It's a reminder of what we can achieve when we aim for the stars. Worth forwarding if you know someone who loves science and exploration.