What Would You Do Behind The Moon?

Key Points:

• The Artemis Orion spacecraft has entered the Moon's gravitational sphere and is preparing for a seven-hour close lunar orbit to conduct detailed surface observations, including views of previously unseen features like the Orientale Basin.
• During the orbit, there will be a 40-minute communications blackout when the Moon blocks radio and laser signals between Orion and Earth, creating a rare period of silence and isolation for the crew.
• This mission will break the human record for distance from Earth set by Apollo 13 and marks only the 13th time humans have orbited the Moon without landing, evoking reflections on the solitude experienced by past astronauts like Michael Collins.
• The Artemis crew plans to use the blackout period productively by focusing on lunar observations, while also inviting people on Earth to send positive thoughts for their safe return to contact.
• Jim Lovell, the only person to orbit the Moon twice without landing, recorded a welcoming message for the Artemis crew, underscoring the mission's connection to Apollo-era milestones.