Artemis II crew share first words from space

April 3, 2026

The four-member Artemis II crew provided updates on day two of their historic lunar mission, which will take them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled before, surpassing Apollo 13's distance record from 1970. The astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—successfully completed a critical engine burn and shared details about their journey, including resolving minor technical issues like a malfunctioning toilet and dirty windows. While this mission will not include a lunar landing, it serves as preparation for a potential Moon landing planned for 2028.

Who is affected

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (the four Artemis II astronauts)
NASA ground crews and mission control personnel
Eight-year-old Lucas Yee from San Francisco (designer of the Moon mascot plushie)
The American public and international community observing the mission

What action is being taken

The astronauts are broadcasting live from space
The crew has completed a critical engine burn to propel the spacecraft toward the far side of the Moon
NASA ground crews are instructing the astronauts on resolving technical issues
The astronauts are cleaning dirty windows using water and dry wipes
The crew is conducting their 10-day journey around the Moon

Why it matters

This mission represents humanity's farthest journey from Earth, breaking the distance record set by Apollo 13 over 50 years ago. It serves as a critical preparation phase for NASA's planned lunar landing by 2028, testing systems and procedures necessary for future Moon exploration. The mission also carries symbolic importance during a time of political division in the United States, representing what humanity can achieve through collaboration and unity across differences.

What's next

The crew is expected to hold additional video conferences during the mission
A planned communication blackout will occur when the Orion passes behind the far side of the Moon, cutting off all contact with mission control for 41 minutes
Future missions are preparing for a potential lunar landing by 2028

Read full article from source: BBC