Update 7/4 14:00: Orion passed behind the moon, coming as close as 6,546 kilometers from the surface, setting a new record of 406,770 kilometers from Earth, and also photographing areas from the far side.
The Artemis II mission has completed its most dramatic phase: the first manned lunar orbit since Apollo 17. According to NASA's final update, the lunar orbit phase lasted about seven hours, after which Orion began its return journey to Earth. During the transit, the crew documented the surface from the far side of the moon, describing impact craters, ancient lava flows, cracks and ridges, and even reporting differences in color, brightness and texture that could help scientists better understand the composition and history of the lunar crust. (NASA)
The key moments of the pass all occurred in less than an hour. Orion entered a planned communications blackout as it passed behind the moon at 6:44 p.m. Eastern Time, or 01:44 a.m. Israel time. Two minutes earlier, NASA reported “Earthset” — the moment when the Earth sank below the lunar horizon from the crew’s perspective. At 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or 02:00 a.m. Israel time, the spacecraft reached its closest point to the moon, about 4,067 miles above the surface, about 6,546 kilometers. Two minutes later, Orion also reached its maximum distance from Earth — 252,756 miles, about 406,770 kilometers — thus setting a new record for human flight. Communication was resumed at 7:24 p.m. with “Earthrise,” or the reappearance of the Earth above the lunar horizon.
NASA's continuous live broadcast of the Artemis II mission
After resuming contact, Artemis II also entered a solar eclipse that lasted about an hour, when the moon almost completely blocked the sun. NASA said the team took advantage of this window to observe the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, and also to look for flashes of meteoroid impacts on the lunar surface. The latest update to the mission blog said that the lunar observation period had ended, and that Orion had begun its journey home; according to NASA's schedule, the spacecraft is scheduled to leave the moon's gravitational field again on April 7 at 13:25 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 20:25 p.m. Israel time.
The record broken during Day 6 is not just symbolic. NASA emphasized that the crew of Reed Weisman, Victor Glover, Christina Cook, and Jeremy Hansen surpassed the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, and that during the flight, the astronauts used hand-held digital cameras and an external camera array to collect documentation that will serve as a basis for future Artemis missions. The agency noted in advance that during the transit around the moon, photographs of areas that humans have not directly seen before will be collected, and that this material will also help prepare for the program's future lunar base. (NASA)
The far side photos released so far
The most important official photograph I have found so far is “Oriental on Display” NASA. This is a photo from April 6 showing the entire Orientale basin. NASA explains that the near side of the moon is visible on the right, while everything to the left of the basin is the far side — meaning this is an official photo from the flight that actually also shows parts of the far side. (NASA)
Another photo that has already been published is “Closing in on the Moon” From NASA Johnson's official Flickr account. This is a photo from April 4, two days before the transit, and it shows parts of the far side already visible. According to the official caption, the Orientale basin is on the rim of the disk, and Artemis II marks the first time humans have seen the entire basin. (flickr.com)
There is also another official NASA photo under the title "The Near Side of the Moon"Despite the title, NASA itself notes that part of the far side is also visible on the left edge of the image, just beyond the Orientale basin. This is not a "deep" shot of the heart of the far side, but it is additional footage from the flyby that shows a visual transition between the two halves of the moon. (NASA)
As of now, it appears that NASA has yet to release a full gallery of the far-side images captured during the transit itself. An ABC report in Australia also noted that the images taken from the far side, which many had been expecting, have not yet been released in full, even though NASA has already confirmed that the team photographed the area during the transit. So, what can be said with caution is that there is already official documentation available of the far-side rim and the Orientale Basin in full view, but more direct and detailed images are likely to be released.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
3 תגובות
Because it wasn't planned. Even before Apollo 11, there was Apollo 10, which only orbited the moon. Wait for Artemis 4
Why didn't they land?
Impressive and fascinating!